When Windows 7 emerge on the ever growing OS wars, Microsoft has finally developed the OS that can be considered a true successor of Windows XP. With it's unexpected flunk from Vista, Microsoft has learned their lessons and redeemed their lost honor.

On the other side, New Operating System means new trials. New challenges awaits us on how to configure our devices or software to work with the OS. Or by the least, make it work.

Looking back 10 years ago, I first had a glimpse of a product that has revolutionize printing. The print servers. I had the first experience of printing thru a print server with my old Linksys box, the EPSX3. This device stayed with me for more than 5 years until i finally decided to move up and start using USB printers and challenge myself to use a wireless print server to par. One thing that i have realized from this experience is that it's not easy to setup a print server especially if you have little knowledge on how it works. Well, from a quick research and plenty of technical support calls I finally learned to figure out on how to make my little Print Server work. To make my story short, i have realized that almost all print servers are configure the same way regardless of what version of Windows you are using. I say Windows because i'm not a big fan of MAC nor Linux. The best and easiest method on configuring your print server to work with your printer is still LPR (Line Printer Remote). And this is basically what i'll be babbling on this article. How to do LPR on Windows 7?

To begin, it always goes to whether or not you (for this matter, me) have installed the printer drivers to the computer. Different Operating Systems could sometimes mean different set of drivers. Printer drivers should be installed properly on your computer first and make sure your computer can print fine when the printer is wired to it. This would be a deciding factor whether or not you have installed the printer drivers correctly. Afterwards, proceed immediately in configuring your print server. You can refer to your Print Server documentation on how to do it. Basically, we only need two things from it, its IP Address and make sure we can ping that IP Address. The moment you determine the IP of your print server, go to Devices and Printer window on your Windows 7 computer.



For my setup, I am using an HP Officejet 7400 printer.



Right click on your printer icon and click Printer Properties.



On the next window, it will show the same nauseating options and tabs like your XP and Vista. And from here, it should be smooth sailing. Click on Add Port and proceed with the wizard.



Select Standard TCP IP and make sure to click New Port. Not "New Port Type".



Proceed with the wizard.



Input the IP Address of your print server and do NOT worry about the Port Name since it will automatically be filled in. Focus on the IP Address field only. Proceed with the wizard afterwards.



By default, Standard is selected. But since we are not using standard ports, click on Custom and proceed to Settings.



Make sure you select LPR, and feel free to input anything under Queue Name. Usually i just input either L1, L2 or L3. Press Ok afterwards then proceed with the wizard again until you complete it.





Don't forget to Apply the settings the moment you finish the wizard.

You can now start printing through your Print Server. Cheers!!!