Good printer server, but terrible installation guide

The printer server does work after it has been successfully set up and I am satisfied with its performance. But if you are setting up multiple printers, the Installation Guide is absolutely terrible. Actually, I don't think that the word "terrible" is a strong enough word, because it suggests something that is merely inadequate or unclear. It is much worse than that.

For just a single printer installation, the instructions are pretty clear. I was able to successfully install the first printer in about 10 minutes with no frustration whatsoever. But major problem occurs with the second printer if you have followed the instructions to install the first printer. For installing multiple printers, the installation guide has key information that is flat wrong and misleading, rather than being just unclear.

The problem has to do with the different concepts of "port name" and "printer name or IP address". The instructions tells you, correctly, to enter the IP address of the printer server for the "port name". But it says nothing about "printer name or IP address". If you are installing just a single printer, you will not have a problem because the printer name or IP address is automatically generated once you enter the "port name". But this will cause an outright failure for the second printer. The reason is very simple, because the printer server has a unique IP address, it will also automatically generate an identical entry for the field "printer name or IP address" for every printer you try to install. This will cause an error with a message "the port already exists" when you install the second or any subsequent printer.

As it turned out, in order to install multiple printers, you must do the following: For all printers, after you have entered the printer server IP address in the "port name", immediately delete the automatically generated entry in the field "printer name or IP address", and fill in the Printer Name for the respective printer which you can get from the Web interface of the printer server. You will notice that although the printer server has a single unique IP address, each printer has its own printer name. This way, a unique port may be created for each printer.

The above may sound simple, but how would anyone know? The installation guide is inevitably misleading for multiple printer installation because it simply tells you to repeat the same thing for the second printer. And of course it would not work. I could not figured out by myself, even though I consider myself to be quite knowledgeable. The above knowledge is a result of my spending over one hour on the phone with a technical support personnel, who is at least very patient but not very efficient in that he didn't recognize the problem immediately. Quite surprising, because the way it is, I would think everyone who has ever tried to install multiple printers on this printer server will inevitably have the same problem, unless of course the person already knew the answer.

Due to incorrect and insufficient documentation, set up for multiple printers can be tough. But if you are determined, with correct information it can be done. And once it's done, you get a very reliable and usable multi-printer server for a reasonable price. For the brave, I'd say go for it.