I am sure this question has arisen more than once, as to just how to locate and use the network printer in your Mac OS X network,so you can print from your Windows PC. After all, the Macs you have in your network print with no problem, why not the PC?
But nothing seems to work, that you have tried. So what to do?
Well, the answer comes with a simple yet very effective technology implemented by Apple Inc., just to address this issue.
It is a
zero configuration networking protocol known as
Bonjour.
Bonjour formerly known as
Rendevous, was implemented from the
Zeroconf (Zero-configuration) service delivery protocol and first introduced by Apple in its software with the release of the Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar system.
In lay terms, what "Zero Configuration Networking" means to you, is that you do not have to be computer geek or guru, to simply install or configure this software, because it was designed for the most part to automatically discover computers, devices, and services on local IP networks.
The "local IP network" being described here, is
your own network, whether it is in your home, home office or anywhere you have a network setup.
What makes Bonjour so efficient, is that it can work with PCs in order to work with devices connected to Macs. To use it, all you need to do is install the software to your PC. Macs with Mac OS X versions from 10.2 to 10.6, of course, already have Bonjour as a built in feature.
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So how do I use Bonjour to discover printers on my Windows PC(s)?
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It really is a simple as 1 -2-3.1.) Download Bonjour - You can simply search for it by name through
Google or your favorite web search engine, or
click the link below to install in on your PC.
Download and Install Bonjour for Windows2.) Install Bonjour - Simple enough, install it once the download is
complete. In the example below, I use my Epson
NX415 printer as a network printer on a Mac OS X
network, that needs to be discovered by a Toshiba
Laptop with Windows Vista Sp2 also a part of that
network.
3.)
Launch Bonjour to discover the printer(s) in your network - a.) Introduction Screen:
You will be very satisfied when you see how little
effort you have to put into discovering the network
printer on your PC with the Bonjour Printer Wizard.
**
Note: Keep in mind, the network printer must be properly
connected, turned on and functional, otherwise Bonjour
will not discover your networked printer with your PC.**
b.) Printer Discovered:
Printer in Mac OS X network, if working and turned
on... Should be discovered by Bonjour right away..
c.) Printer Driver not needed:
A really nice feature with Bonjour:You really don't need to have the print driver software for the
discovered printer. Bonjour will identify the printer, its
location on the Mac OS X network and will use a
Generic/Postscript identity due to a print driver for the
PC not being needed.
d.) Summary of discovered network printer:
Final screen for the Bonjour Printer Wizard. Just click
the Finish button and that is all it should take.
Done!Now open any document run a test print..
on and get to printing with the newly discovered
Mac OS X network printer on your PC.
Now, that you know, no more guessing, on how to find
that elusive Mac OS X network printer for your PC.
Happy Printing!
Regards,
Mactechtrainer
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