How to install a usb printer to pfsense router?

yashiharu

everybody suggested to read this post
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=44941.msg597609#msg597609

unfortunately, it doesn't work on my new installed pfsense router
there's no devfs in /etc/rc.d

any advise?

johnpoz

curious on why a router/firewall would need a printer attached.. Are you wanting to leverage your pfsense box as a print server for your network??

marvosa

Why in the world would you want a printer plugged into your firewall?

yashiharu

@johnpoz:

curious on why a router/firewall would need a printer attached.. Are you wanting to leverage your pfsense box as a print server for your network??

printer sharing
share under different vlan

yashiharu

@marvosa:

Why in the world would you want a printer plugged into your firewall?

coz the Asus AP is not stable for USB printer

jimp

You're opening a huge can of worms here. Assuming the printer has drivers, etc, you'll still have to manually install and configure things to allow the printer to work and be exposed for sharing, all the while compromising the security of your firewall.

The firewall isn't meant to be a print server, file server, web server, etc. Spend a few extra bucks and get a proper networked printer and it will work fine, even from multiple subnets (assuming the printer manufacturer isn't braindead).

marvosa

Share it off a server… or even a workstation if you have to, but I wouldn't even entertain sharing it off PFsense.

If this is just something you're playing with and want to see if you can do, fine, but trying to hand-jam it into PFsense to address a print sharing instability issue... is a BAD idea.

Share your printer off a dedicated box or buy a standalone USB print server... and let your firewall be a firewall.

A RaspBerry PI 2.0 for 50 € will do this job more adequate and gives you also the ability to run Linux
on it that comes with more or better driver support for the printer. Or a refurbished print server will
do the job awesome cheap. If you want or must to go with FreeBSD you could also have a look on the
new MinnowBoard Turbot from the ADI or Netgate shop.

chpalmer

use one of these

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/144769/TP-LINK-TL-PS310U-Single-USB20/?cm_mmc=PLA--Google--Printers_Scanners_Faxes-_-144769-VQ6-47886841556-VQ16-c-VQ17-pla_with_promotion-VQ18-online-VQ19-144769-VQ20-83662407476-VQ21–VQ22-176194796&gclid=CPnTrNSlsssCFYeUfgodYHQOiw

kapara

Not sure if this will apply. If you are running 2012 server and desktops are 8.1 or newer, and last but not least your domain controller is across a VPN tunnel you can now use a feature in which even though the printer share is setup on the remote machine, printing is done directly to the printer.

Also maybe I missed it but is the printer USB or network capable?