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I have a Netgear switch which supports VLANs. I want to separate two networks, each one having its own internet gateway and servers, but I want all users from the two VLANs to be able to access the same ethernet printer.

Having never configured a VLAN, what are the steps to configure these so that the networks are separated (ie no access between them) and that they can acces the same printer ?

If someone who has already used a Netgear switch could help me with the specific steps, that would be really great.

Many thanks

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Do they share the same router at the edge? – gravyface Feb 1 '12 at 15:31
doh, ok so you don't have any gear yet besides the one Netgear switch? – gravyface Feb 1 '12 at 15:35
Could a cisco 1600 do this ? I have one with 2x 10mbit/s Ethernet. – oimoim Feb 3 '12 at 8:33
10Mb is going to be slow. What kind of a budget do you have? – gravyface Feb 3 '12 at 12:27
Virtually no budget :) – oimoim Feb 7 '12 at 16:18

3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote

Put the printer on a third VLAN and ensure that both user VLANs have access to it via the router.

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This method allows you to keep vlan 1 and 2 separate while still granting access to your printer. A fairly simple method that’s easy to implement and manage. Good idea. – Ben Campbell Feb 1 '12 at 15:46
Unfortunately, I have only got a Cisco 1600. But my solution works. Many thanks. – oimoim Feb 7 '12 at 16:18
You might be able to do a router-on-a-stick configuration. – MikeyB Feb 7 '12 at 18:12
up vote 1 down vote

HP LaserJet 4100 Series Printers can have two EIO-format ethernet ports, this would work but you may find adding some basic routing and/or firewalling into your network would be cheaper/easier.

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This printer unfortunately has only one ethernet adapter with a single port on it. – oimoim Feb 1 '12 at 15:29
2  
Right, you said 'a printer', not 'an existing single port printer', this site's for pro sysadmins who list the kit they're asking about unless the make/model isn't chosen yet - I doubt VERY much indeed that this existing printer support VLAN trunking, which is the only way of doing this without routing in place. – Chopper3 Feb 1 '12 at 15:33
Indeed, it doesn't support VLAN trunking. – oimoim Feb 7 '12 at 16:18
up vote 0 down vote accepted

Ok guys, many thanks for your help. I have found a more practical solution. I have attached an ethernet print server to one of the printer's usb ports and connected the ethernet to the other VLAN.

This gives the printer dual ethernet ability :)

Never thought I could use the ethernet port and the usb port simultaneously.

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