Can i connect a network printer directly to my laptop with Ethernet cable?

Question

I'm picking up a cheap, good laser printer; however, it's a network printer only. It does not have wi-fi or a USB port. The normal way of connecting this is via Ethernet cable to my router and then use it as a network printer. However, my router is in my kitchen (long story) and my laptop is in my office. Can I connect the printer to my laptop via Ethernet and connect my laptop to the network via wi-fi?
Or, do I have to connect my printer to my router via Ethernet cable and have that in my kitchen while my wi-fi connected laptop is in my office?
TIA

Answer 1

Yes, you can directly connect to the printer via your Ethernet while connected to your network with wireless.



1) Give your Ethernet port a static IP address and give the printer a static IP address both in the same subnet, but on a different subnet than your wireless. eg. If your wireless is using the 192.168.1.x/24 network, use something like 192.168.50.1/24 on the printer and 192.168.50.2/24 on your Ethernet port. There is no gateway setting or DNS setting for this configuration. Then add the printer and when it asks for an IP address, tell it the printer is at 192.168.50.1.



2) This might be the better answer and more useful in the long run. Buy a wireless bridge and plug your printer in to that. That should allow your printer to communicate with the rest of your wireless network and does not require hard coding IP addresses in to things. A reasonable wireless bridge is $60-$100 or so in Canada.

Answer 2

No you cannot connect the printer directly to your laptop

There is an alternative to running an Ethernet cable to your kitchen however, a simple Ethernet switch or a 2nd router set to bridge mode and connected to the router in your kitchen would both work.

Answer 3

I think it's possible.  You will probably need to use an Ethernet crossover cable (aka cross-wired cable).  If the printer doesn't pick up an IP address from Windows, manually configure the address as 169.254.x.y, where x and y are numbers from 1 to 254.  Set the subnet mask to 255.255.0.0.  I think that no default gateway setting is needed.

Answer 4

You probably need a hub - a small 4-port device into which you can plug the printer and the PC. Costs about £10 or at most £20.