Parts of a Network: Printers

Library
This page contains information about connecting a printer to a sample home network.

Most home printers don't have their own network interfaces; the ability to network an average home inkjet printer depends on plugging the printer into a turned-on computer and telling the computer to share its printer. (Larger and more powerful printers can have their own identity on the network just like a computer does.)

So let's assume that an ordinary inkjet printer is plugged into Desktop's USB port, and that the printer drivers have been installed on Desktop. During the installation process, the printer was identified as a shared printer, so that any other computer on the local network can print from it.

Network diagram

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