In a prior issue of Sacra Blue, we looked at Hawking Technology’s PN7337 print server, a device that connects up to three printers to the local network as standalone peripherals. The inclusion of a print server has become an important addition to home and small business networks. Recently at a meeting of the Sacramento PC Users Group, a show of hands indicated that 90% of the audience has two or more networked computers. Using units such as this, there is no longer the requirement for an always-on "hosting" computer to share its printer(s) among all other workstations on the LAN.

The PN7117P controls a single printer and attaches directly to the Centronics port on the printer. It is a component of your 10/100Base-TX LAN, using any of IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, and TCP/IP protocols, operating under Windows, Netware, or UNIX. The PN7117P can get its TCP/IP address from a DHCP server or can be manually set.

This unit, being a "P" version, adds a few really nice features over the non-P version, notably the inclusion of a new "Internet Printing Protocol," (IPP) and an HTML-based configuration interface. This reviewer foresees a personal need for IPP and so specifically sought out the simplest solution—this unit. However, as explained below, a more complete understanding of IPP from other resources is necessary before this unit can solve that particular need. In the meantime, the addition of a print server, whether it is the PN7117P or another unit, has solved many persistent headaches and is well worth the cost.

Status Screen

Click the thumbnail for full image. (20K)

Even with an HTML-based configuration interface, new installations require the use of a print server administration program. (If the PN7117P ships with a pre-assigned IP address, nowhere in the documentation is it revealed. Presuming there isn’t an IP address already loaded into the device’s memory, that then means having to use another protocol to search for and identify print server units on the LAN.) Once the PSAdmin program has located compatible units, the LAN administrator can then assign an IP address to the unit or enable its DHCP client capability. Then, knowing the IP address, one can access the device’s control panel using Web browsers. (The browser must support frames.)

The installation of this unit was much smoother than the 7337 from a few months ago—no doubt because most of the networking preliminaries had already been ironed out. The device runs very warm to the touch. Apparently, this unit did not go through an extensive burn-in period, and so, for a few days, expect it to smell like something is overheating. Also, be sure to upgrade to the latest Network Print Monitor drivers. These drivers add a "Network Print Port" to the list of ports that a printer object can be attached to.

The unit performed flawlessly for the three weeks this reviewer had it available for review. Again, as mentioned in the PN7337 evaluation, this unit does not report back ink levels or other status messages. That criticism could be blamed on the Epson printer drivers as, on the printer setup screen, there is a place to "select the bi-directional of the print server." (sic)

Apparently, Hawking Technology is one of several resellers of these OEM units. Other companies that distribute identical products include Nalcom's PrimeShare PH-101p, Micronet Communications SP700 series, and Planex Communications Mini100 series. As far as can be determined, it is Zero One Technology’s P100 unit that serves as the source model. The unit is built and its documentation is written in Taiwan.

The documentation accompanying the product is written in horrendous English. Details on networking operations are incomplete, sparse, or non-existent. Therefore, there is very little likelihood that a novice user can get the unit configured beyond the most basic setup. The presumption is that the user is already familiar with networks and how they operate. For example, there is no step-by-step process on how to have the print server accept print jobs from a remote sender somewhere out on the Internet (IPP). That task requires some additional information not found in the manual. Hawking Technology is urgently advised to write a manual of their own for this and similar devices for their American market.

The Internet Printing Protocol, among other things, permits authorized users to send print jobs to a device not located on the LAN or WAN. However, you are still required to have the specific printer drivers installed on the remote "client" computer.

On this reviewer’s LAN, there exists another print server from a different manufacturer. The PSAdmin program included with the PN-7117P does not "see" this other unit, nor does the config utility included with that other unit "see" the PN-7117P. Why that is, is unknown at this time.

PN7117P Print Server
Hawking Technology
6A Faraday
Irvine, CA 92618
888-662-8828
$99.00 MSRP