My Vista PC does not have any directly connected printers, but my home network does 
have two networked printers.

1.  HP LaserJet 5P connected via IEEE-1284 parallel port cable to a 7-1/2 year old 
Linksys EFSP42 combo 2-port parallel port print server and 4-port switch.

2.  LaserJet 2600n color laser jet conencted via the built-in RJ-45 port.

I expected the 2600n to install without a hitch but I was expected big trouble with 
the 5P-linky print server because of the age of the print server.

To install the 5P, I first attempted to run the Linksys-provided setup utility that 
does work nicely under 98/Me/NT/W2K/XP.  While the utility ran, it seemed as though 
it could not connect with the print server, either by the unit's factory-assigned 
name or by the unit's previously assigned static IP address.  I uninstalled the Linksys 
setup utility.

Next I used Vista's Add Printer Wizard to install the printer.  I selected Networked 
Printer.  It instantly found the 5P but as a shared printer on one of the home network's 
XP boxes, but I didn't want that, as the XP box would have to be up and running to 
print.  After about 90 seconds that was the only printer shown in the Select Printer 
diagram.

Clicking on "the printer I want isn't listed" took me to a followup dialog box that 
gave me the option to Browse for a printer, Select a shared printer by typing in 
or browsing for the name, or Adding a printer by TCP/IP address or hostname, which 
is almost identical to the XP choices.

Selecting TCP/IP takes you to a dialog that allows you to type in the IP address, 
choose device types "Web Services device" or "TCP/IP device" and to query the device 
and automatically install a driver if available.  The Wizard was able to contact 
the device (my Linky print server), but it could not figure out exactly what it was 
so it presented a long list of possible print servers from such manufacturers as 
HP, Lexmark, Ricoh, Canon, Intel, Genicom, etc.  I chose the first of three aparently 
identical listings for generic "Network Print Server 2 port".  The next screen was 
the typical "select your printer" dialog, from which I selected the HP LJ 5P.  The 
driver was installed, the test page came out fine, and that was it.

I was expecting a struggle, but in the end it must have been this easy because the 
Linky unit evidently complies with established TCP/IP printing standards.

I installed the 2600n using the provided HP setup CD, which worked like a charm. 
 You can set up the 2600n to use a static IP or a dynamic IP, and I had previously 
set it for dynamic, and all went well.

I hope others find it this easy to install any of their slightly obscure network 
printing devices onto their Vista computers.

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