Hp JetDirect 170x Print Server Review
The HP JetDirect 170x Print Server is getting a bit long in the tooth now but enough people write to us with questions about the 170x so we'll review it. So we dropped a segment of our office test network (Game network!) down to 10 Mbps and connected the JetDirect to a nearby network cable.
The HP JetDirect 170x Print Server
Yesterdays Technology at Todays Prices.
The HP JetDirect 170x Print Server is a standard rectangular JetDirect Print Server with a single Parallel Printer port to attach to your printer and a 10Mbps Network Port. If you are running a 10/100 Mbps network your switch or network hub should autodetect / autosense the speed of the JetDirect 170x and drop that port to 10Mbps.
The HP JetDirect is an old model so the first thing you should do is to upgrade your print servers firmware. We noticed a marked improvement in the 170x's performance after we upgraded the firmware - This review was carried out using the . The best tool for managing your HP JetDirect Print Server is HP's Download Manager, Now in its 3rd version and thoroughly recommended for anyone with an HP JetDirect Print Server.
Another positive for the JetDirect 170x is the support of HP JetAdmin and HP WebJetAdmin print server management applications. If you have a lot of JetDirect Print Servers on your network these tools will lower your administration costs. If your a home network or small office user you should investigate the tools as well.
For More information about HP Jetdirect Download Manager V3.x visit : Upgrading HP Jetdirect Print Server Firmware
Enough about Hp Print Server Software, is 10Mbps fast enough to cut it in todays world of Gbps home networks? No. And especially not at the price of $75. Once again an HP JetDirect Print Server that costs too much compared to the competition. Even yesterdays Hp JetDirect Print Servers like the 10Mbps 170x cost more than 10/100 print servers made by D-Link, Linksys and others.
If you've got a quiet 10Mbps home network then the 170x might fit the bill but for the same money you could get a combination print server 10/100Mbps Switch to bring your network speed up to standard and share a couple of printers around the network.
On a quiet network 10Mbps was fine but when we started to push the print traffic up - any printers connected to the 170x Jetdirect began to slow down. We didn't see this with other 100Mbps network print servers we've reviewed.
Hewlett Packard HP JetDirect 170X Print Server Specs :
- Cost : $75
- HP Model No : J3258B
- Printer Port : Parallel
- Network Port : 10 Mbps Ethernet Network only
- Operating Systems Supported : Windows, Netware, Linux
- Size : 7" * 4" * 1.5"
- Warranty : 1 Year
The Hp JetDirect 170x comes in two varieties, the standard 170x Print Server and the J4102B Office Connect Print Server which costs another $15 to integrate your print servers with existing 3Com OfficeConnect Network hardware. Unless you own existing 3com networking switches or hubs don't purchase the Office Connect option, you will be wasting money.
Another reason why you might be wasting your money with any 170x JetDirect is the short Warranty period. HP only offer a ONE year return to HP warranty. Print Servers are an annoying expense and one that can raise eyebrows reading IT budgets. A Print Server has to have a longer warranty period than one year. period.
The JetDirect 170x Print Server is a relic from yesteryear that isn't priced accordingly and shouldn't be sold anymore. You should aim to get the longest life possible out of your print servers and other networking hardware. Gigabit Ethernet is becoming more and more commonplace these days and support for 10Mbps devices is drying up. 10Mbps is not fast enough.