IOGEAR 1-Port USB 2.0 Print Server, GPSU21

I read others say it's tricky to install but the instructions are straightforward and easy. I used this method for both a Vista and Windows 7 64 bit machine:1) Make sure your printer is compatible. See www.iogear(dot)com/files/pdf/GPSU21_PrinterCompatibilityList.pdf2) Make sure you have installed the printer drivers on your computer. This is only a server, you must still have the drivers installed.3) Insert the CD and run the Wizard. If prompted by Windows, grant permissions and Unblock firewall.4) If you need to configure a static IP you can, otherwise just click through the steps.5) When you get to where you select a printer, if the printer you want is not on the list (mine wasn't) then click Add New Printer and (as the instructions say, but this is important to not miss)"If asked which port to use, choose LPT1 but DO NOT print a test page yet."6) Just click through to Finish.You can now go to Control Panel and print a test page if you want.Works fine. I have two notebooks that both now have access to the printer without difficulty.UPDATE 7/16/13:Some folks had mentioned the print server stopped working. I had that too and here's what the problem was - I had reset my wifi router. So the IP my computers had for the print server port(which is set during the print server CD setup) no longer matched the new IP the router assigned. This can easily be remedied by setting up the print server with a static IP during the wizard install. Just follow the instructions in the manual. Then I went to my wifi router admin page and set aside that IP for the print server. The process to do this varies per router, but you should be able to find it without too much trouble. On my Linksys E2000 this is done on the Admin's Setup page, under DHCP Server Settings and selecting DHCP Reservation. Afterwards the IP address port assigned to the print server on your computer will always match the one assigned by your router even if you have a power outage or need to reset your router. This whole process literally takes a minute or two.The print server still works great!

I'm using it for an Epson R300, which is an older inkjet printer and is *NOT* on the official "supported list". It prints just fine and is solid (I find network printers prefer static IPs, so I assigned a static one for this unit, as well), though the ink level reporting feature does not work. This is okay with me, since the GPSU21 did not claim to support my printer so the fact that it's working at all I count as a plus.As for Windows 8.1, yes, it definitely works with 8.1 (64 bit) - that what I'm using, as well as another machine running Windows 7. I pre-emptively downloaded the very latest drivers from IOGear rather than installing the ones which came on the CD. I don't know if that was strictly necessary, but it seemed like my best chance for getting good results.I have an unusual LAN addressing scheme (not 192.168.1.x) but no problems getting set up. The IOGear widget used DHCP at first. The driver software had no problem finding it and reconfiguring it to use a static address was a snap. Overall, very easy to use and it appears, after a week or so of infrequent use, to be a solid product.My specific configuration has this unit connected via ethernet to a wifi bridge which also serves a laser printer, also with a static IP. Both are getting along fine. The laser printer prefers a static IP, too -- making that change for it some weeks ago solved a lot of problems. It seems the wifi bridge and the printer's DHCP features did not completely get along.

Like many other reviews of this item, I will agree that the product is old, and neither it, nor its instructions have likely changed at all since this was introduced 15-20 years ago.I also concur with those who said that within these reviews are the best, and maybe the only, truly helpful instructions for anyone having trouble getting this thing to work. But even then, you have to work at it to get to the comments that will be helpful for your situation.Primarily for the dual reasons that (1) it works very well once set up properly, and (2) the manufacturer seems to have made it as difficult as humanly possible to do so, I am giving four stars.On top of the advice others have given, I will offer a small tidbit, to be used in conjunction with information you find elsewhere:This will prove especially helpful if you have gotten this thing working in one environment, and now want to move it to another. Even if you only get a new router and want to keep using this print server and make no other changes, you're going to want to know this. It might prove helpful anytime you've tried a lot of things and nothing seems to work.There is a hard factory reset button on this device. Don't be afraid to use it. Even the woefully inadequate directions that come with this thing might work okay after a reset. So the main advice is to do a hard reset on the device before attempting to install or re-install.But there is a second part to the advice. To use the physical button you have to do a semi-complex procedure that I won't write here but which is very easy to find with a simple internet search. Pressing the button, long pressing the button, none of that will do anything. You must follow the whole factory reset button-pushing procedure. It's not difficult, you just have to find it and do it exactly like it says.I think many people will ultimately never get this thing to work. But I also think there are a lot of very frustrated people who, after resetting the device as I've explained, might suddenly find this thing can be set up quickly and relatively easily. If you are pulling out your hair and are about to hurl this contraption into the garbage, at least give this a try. You've got very little to lose and you just never know how helpful this suggestion might be.Good luck!