Newbie wishes to know if HP Deskjet 870Cxi is sharable

Though experienced in networking other platforms, I'm new to Macintosh.
I've volunteered to help in my daughter's classroom, which has a Macintosh
Series 7.6.1 attached by serial cable to a Hewlett Packard Deskjet 870Cxi
printer. I'd like to share the printer so another similar Macintosh
computer in the room can print to it. Both computers are connected to some
sort of school backbone, and each can access the internet, verifying the
presence of IP. The physical network appears to be Category 3 Ethernet
10Base T.

I've read that printer sharability depends on a lot of things, including the
make and model of the printer. It does not appear with certainty that this
printer is sharable. Can anyone advise?

What might I download to facilitate printer sharing, assuming it is even
possible?

Thank you,
John

In article <vrqcjjpp2f9n01@corp.supernews.com>,
"John B" <jb@noapam.com> wrote:

> Though experienced in networking other platforms, I'm new to Macintosh.
> I've volunteered to help in my daughter's classroom, which has a Macintosh
> Series 7.6.1 attached by serial cable to a Hewlett Packard Deskjet 870Cxi
> printer. I'd like to share the printer so another similar Macintosh
> computer in the room can print to it. Both computers are connected to some
> sort of school backbone, and each can access the internet, verifying the
> presence of IP. The physical network appears to be Category 3 Ethernet
> 10Base T.
>
> I've read that printer sharability depends on a lot of things, including the
> make and model of the printer. It does not appear with certainty that this
> printer is sharable. Can anyone advise?
>
> What might I download to facilitate printer sharing, assuming it is even
> possible?

AFAIK you cannot share it. You can however network it. The 870 can
either operate as a serial printer directly connected to the computer or
it can use LocalTalk and be on a network. The easiest way to do this is
to get a couple of LocalTalk adapters and connect the printer to the
printer port on the Mac it's currently connected to. Turn the printer
off and back on again after you connect the adapters. Then go the the
Apple web site and download LocalTalk Bridge software. This will make
the printer on the LocalTalk network you've just created be available to
the Ethernet (EtherTalk) network you currently have. You do need to use
the LocalTalk adapters, the regular printing cable won't work. The
printer senses the data being echoed back from the LocalTalk adapter
when it powers up to set whether to operate as a LocalTalk interface or
serial.

The other way to do this is with a hardware LocalTalk bridge to do this.
These are nicer because one computer doesn't have to be on to let the
other one print. But they do cost about $80 new.

Have fun helping out at the school. I've been doing it for several
years now.

--
Clark Martin
Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting

"I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway"