Connect parallel printer to laptop (lubuntu 12.04) via network

[Arctikuma]

Hi all, I'm attempting to set up an old receipt printer to a laptop. As I have no experience at all regarding networking and general computing, I'd appreciate for any advice. Thank you.

I have tried the following with two intermediate cables, but to no avail.
Printer (DB25)<--------->(DE9)<-------->(RJ45) Router LAN port 2
Laptop (RJ45)<-------------->(RJ45) Router LAN port 1
I've installed the Epson latest driver, but failed to configure it to work with cups. Basically I couldn't find the printer on localhost:631. Could anyone please teach me how to set it up properly?
Some told me to use a (DE9)<-------->(USB) cable. Whilst I'm waiting the cable to arrive, I am hoping to get more opinion. I really want to hook the printer to the modem/router because that way I could potentially share the printer with multiple devices.

Laptop model: Sony VAIO VPCW213AG (official) [1x RJ45 10Base-T/100Base-TX, 2x High speed USB2.0]
Printer model: Epson TM-T88IV (official) [RS-232, Bi-directional parallel]
Modem/Router: Netcomm NB304N (official) [4x LAN ports]
Operative system: Lubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) 64-bit
Printer driver: TM/BA Series Printer Driver for Linux v2.0.1.2 (official download)

ISP: TPG, Australia. Type:ADSL2+
Attached devices: 1x Laptop(wired), 1x Printer(wired), 1x iPad, 2~4 Android phones.
NAS/server: none
Wifi router: Yes? built-in the modem/router?
internal LAN connection: not sure
USB dongle: not sure
external PCI card: no

 

[cub_fanatic]

You could try a cable like this that takes the old parallel printer and converts it to USB but since you are going from parallel to serial, it probably won't work. http://www.amazon.com/CNE35805-Parallel-Printer-Adapter-Cable/dp/B000BV8604 I have tried one like this on my HP Laserjet 4P on a new laptop and it doesn't work. I read about something where you can create a virtual parallel port or something in windows to get the laptop to recognize the signal coming in through the USB port but it is probably more complicated than setting up a print server with another PC or laptop acting as the server and chances are it might still not work...

The way I would do it is to buy an old PC or laptop that has the parallel port built into it natively and then simply share the printer over the network. If you are using Linux on both machines, this should in theory work. The old PC connected to the printer would act as a print server as long as it is on. If it is connected directly to the main router via ethernet, any device should be able to print off it either through wifi or ethernet. I've never done this since I simply use the old Core 2 machine when I want to print on my Laserjet, but any one of these results should get you started: https://www.google.com/search?q=set+up+print+server+linux&oq=set+up+print+server+linux&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4.3846j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

 

[Alabalcho]

I am kind of puzzled with your connection. How you have connected the printer, using cables only, to the router' LAN port 2?

 

[DerekVGH]

If your printer has a parallel port and not a network port, then you can't use a cable like that to connect it to your network. Those cables are designed to connect a serial port on a computer to a console port on a router, which is a serial connection in an RJ-45 plug.

If you want to connect this printer through the network, you will need a network print server, which will plug into the printer via the parallel port and provide a network connection that you can link to your router. Many companies make these, including Zebra, TP-Link and Startech, to name a few.

 

[Arctikuma]

First of all, thank you for all the suggestions. To be clear, there's absolutely no logic with regard to my failed attempt. I just took some cables from a box and matched them in shape until they physically connected, skill that I acquired from 3 years old.

That DB25-to-USB converter cable probably wouldn't work in my case because the printer output is female DB25. Also I cannot find any male DB25-to-usb cable on eBay.
Setting up a print server with an old PC could be a solution. I do have a spare computer with COM ports. I think they're meant for serial communication. But I still want to make the printer work on a single laptop for now because the old PC is huge and it uses a lot of watts.

DerekVGH, I was wondering if this is what you meant by network print server. Very interesting suggestion, and it's only $15 bidding on local eBay.