2 Networks, Two ISP's, One Printer

[dpryved]

I have been going round with this one. I have two clients that share one office. They have two separate networks. First is the zero network, they have a cable modem to a router and wired to two computers. The next is the one network, they have a cable modem to a router and off to three machines, plus a network printer. On the zero network we have 192.168.0.1 on the one network 192.168.1.1 Now I have a free Ethernet line to tie the two together, but the networks cannot see each other, obviously. Because of security reasons for their line of work they prefer the networks to differ and only to be able to share the printer. If I tie the two networks together between routers then I have two different DHCP's going after each other. If I subnet, I cant get the printer to communicate. The printer is not capable of having two NICs although it is new enough you think it would. I have been toying with the idea of installing two NICs and bridging the networks, although I need to keep the privacy between the two networks secure. Or a VPN between them to set the printer on. I am at a loss here, so any input will help.

 

[Skippy27]

Get an external print server for the other network or make the other get their own printer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833139009

I find it a little silly that they work within the same office and want privacy but refuse to share the same network. The biggest security problem they have is physical, not electronic.

 

[Onus]

You could built a dirt cheap mATX box to share the printer. Put two NICs in it, one for each network; then attach the printer to that PC and share it to the two networks. You won't have to bridge the networks. You could also set up a share on that box in case they ever needed to copy something between their networks.

 

[dpryved]

Get an external print server for the other network or make the other get their own printer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833139009

I find it a little silly that they work within the same office and want privacy but refuse to share the same network. The biggest security problem they have is physical, not electronic.

I agree, but I cant swing them to connect the two, do you have an idea on how to combine the two and keep it secure. I have a mix the zero network has a win 7 and one XP the one has one win 7 and two xp. I want to be able to show them that it can be secure by setting passwords between the two isolated sides. But they don't want to be able to even view each others computers at all, I haven't figured out how to go about that. Any ideas?

 

[Onus]

The PC connected to both will not allow each network's PCs to see the other network. You won't set it up as a bridge, just as a PC that exists on two networks. By the time you set this up though, you'll have spent at least a couple hundred dollars, which may be almost enough to buy another printer.

 

[dpryved]

The PC connected to both will not allow each network's PCs to see the other network. You won't set it up as a bridge, just as a PC that exists on two networks. By the time you set this up though, you'll have spent at least a couple hundred dollars, which may be almost enough to buy another printer.

Thank you for your thoughts as I have also played with that idea, this is a very expensive Xerox Multi Machine. But at this point between what the clients want and what the office supply company did to the network, I need to get all the functionalities up and running. At this point no one can scan and only one person can print. So I have to reconfigure everything to.

 

[DerekVGH]

You could set up the router on network 0 to forward port 9100 to your printer's IP address, and then use a DDNS service to get a web address associated with network 0's external IP address. Then, create a printer on the computers on network one, local printer, TCP/IP port, and give it your DDNS address. As long as the address is synced with your IP, then your print jobs will forward to your printer. This method has the advantage of not requiring any extra hardware, and there are several free DDNS companies out there. It may not be the most secure method, but it will get the job done.

 

[dpryved]

You could set up the router on network 0 to forward port 9100 to your printer's IP address, and then use a DDNS service to get a web address associated with network 0's external IP address. Then, create a printer on the computers on network one, local printer, TCP/IP port, and give it your DDNS address. As long as the address is synced with your IP, then your print jobs will forward to your printer. This method has the advantage of not requiring any extra hardware, and there are several free DDNS companies out there. It may not be the most secure method, but it will get the job done.

Thank you, this is a great option that I will consider. Thank you for your time

 

[Jadfer]

I am sure you may have solved the issue but now but we have the same issue. We cant buy another printer as the device in questions is a copier/scanner that is leased. It has one network port and a usb but you lose functionality like network scanning on the USB port.

We are planning to put a router that supports access lists to allow connection to the printer which would be on a third unique subnet. Then we use the access lists to give access for each network to the printer and to block traffic between the two networks.

Folks that share offices rarely want their networks mixed so this should work very well.

If the cost of the printer is less than $500.. I agree get another printer.

 

[nnguyen]

I have been going round with this one. I have two clients that share one office. They have two separate networks. First is the zero network, they have a cable modem to a router and wired to two computers. The next is the one network, they have a cable modem to a router and off to three machines, plus a network printer. On the zero network we have 192.168.0.1 on the one network 192.168.1.1 Now I have a free Ethernet line to tie the two together, but the networks cannot see each other, obviously. Because of security reasons for their line of work they prefer the networks to differ and only to be able to share the printer. If I tie the two networks together between routers then I have two different DHCP's going after each other. If I subnet, I cant get the printer to communicate. The printer is not capable of having two NICs although it is new enough you think it would. I have been toying with the idea of installing two NICs and bridging the networks, although I need to keep the privacy between the two networks secure. Or a VPN between them to set the printer on. I am at a loss here, so any input will help.

Hi dpryved's,

I recently seen your questions about connecting the two networks and sharing of the same printers. I have a client with the exact same situation. There are to companies in the same building with different network, IP addresses, but both want to share the same printer (MFP devices). I was wondering if you ever resolved your issues.

The printer is a Xerox MFP, which is lease and very expensive and not an option to purchase another printer.

Thanks
Nick