Sharing a Scanner

[Nermal]

I'd like to share my scanner. First, a bit of background:

1 Mac (10.3.2)
3 Windows PCs (XP)
1 Windows "Server" (2003)

The "server" is a standard PC, but with no mouse or screen or anything. It's by no means a "real" server

Prior to today, the server had an old printer plugged into it, and this printer was shared over the network. You could print from my Mac, or any of the PCs.

We decided to replace the printer, and bought a new one today. We ended up getting one of those combo units with the printer and a scanner (it's an Epson Stylus CX3100). I've plugged it into the server and shared the printer, no problems there, everyone can print.

But I'd like to share the scanner. This is my first scanner, so I have no idea how to share it. I can't find an icon to right-click and choose Sharing, like I would with the printer.

So how do I share the scanner? Should I be sharing it from a Windows computer, or would it be easier to plug it into my Mac instead and share it from there?

 

[Pedro Estarque]

you can share a USB scanner in a mac only network with image capture. Its very easy actually.
But if you want to share it with the PC also you might want to try SANE. It can be a bit tricky
I don't think this can be done with TWAIN

 

[Nermal]

Thanks. SANE looks too tricky for me

I've just emailed Epson support to see whether they can help. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Nermal]

I've found some software called RemoteScan that claims to be able to share a scanner over a Windows network. In their forums, someone asked whether it's possible to access the scanner from a Mac. They said no, but they're "evaluating the possibility". So I replied and let them know that I'm interested too.

 

[Pedro Estarque]

If it can be shared over a win network then there might be a way to access it in OSX ( even if it requires some terminal ), since it supports most windows network protocols.
I'm looking for a way to share my SCSI Scanner for ages but never figured out how. When I finally managed to compile SANE I found out that the driver support for my particular scanner was only partial and it wouldn't work.
If you know anything about it...

 

[Nermal]

The SANE site doesn't mention my scanner, but one with a similar model number is listed as "untested". I don't want to go to heaps of trouble just to find that it won't work.

I thought of another option - run a second USB cable from the scanner through to my computer. But I can't find any that are long enough! The longest I can find is 5 metres, I need 10-15 because the scanner's in a different room. I wonder how hard it is to make your own, like you can with a network cable?

By the way, I like your sig I haven't used AppleScript in ages, I can't really remember what to do anymore!

 

[crazzyeddie]

Originally posted by Pedro Estarque
you can share a USB scanner in a mac only network with image capture. Its very easy actually.

How is this done? I have two scanners both on my LAN and neither of them are even detected by Image Capture in the first place... what are the requirements/supported scanners?

 

[Pedro Estarque]

Originally posted by Nermal
The SANE site doesn't mention my scanner, but one with a similar model number is listed as "untested". I don't want to go to heaps of trouble just to find that it won't work.

yea, I think sane just isn't there yet

I thought of another option - run a second USB cable from the scanner through to my computer. But I can't find any that are long enough! The longest I can find is 5 metres, I need 10-15 because the scanner's in a different room. I wonder how hard it is to make your own, like you can with a network cable?

This might work, maybe if you buy a USB HUB you could use it simultaneously. I have 5 meters long USB cable, and I think its the maximum length it can reach. After that you might have to use a device that boots the signal. I wouldn't advise trying to make your own USB cable, It's much harder then ethernet.

By the way, I like your sig I haven't used AppleScript in ages, I can't really remember what to do anymore!

Thanks, I play with AppleScript and Basic to fulfill my programing aspirations, until I have the time ( and courage ) to learn the real stuff like C etc

 

[Pedro Estarque]

Originally posted by crazzyeddie
How is this done? I have two scanners both on my LAN and neither of them are even detected by Image Capture in the first place... what are the requirements/supported scanners?

Are you using 10.3? It works much better in this version. I guess it must be a USB/firewire scanner and I think you can find a list of the supported devices in apple's site.

 

[crazzyeddie]

Yes, scanner sharing was introduced is 10.3 AFAIK... I'm using an Agfa scanner (USB) and an HP All-in-One (USB). I wouldn't doubt that the HP isnt supported because its an all in one, but Agfa and Apple have always had a pretty close relationship as far as scanners go, which is why I think its strange that its not supported.

I also cannot seem to find a list of supported scanners on Mac OS X section of Apple's website... and of course that awful Help Viewer app hasn't even been updated for 10.3 (at least for Preview).

 

[Pedro Estarque]

Originally posted by crazzyeddie
but Agfa and Apple have always had a pretty close relationship as far as scanners go, which is why I I think its strange that its not supported.

Agfa dropped Scanner SCSI support on 10.3 ( apple's fault in my opinion, why do they have to change the SCSI driver every system revision and don't even worry about backward compatibility? )
I don't think they are that close now

 

[crazzyeddie]

I don't think thats a surprise at all... SCSI is yesterday's technology. Firewire is faster, easier to use, hot plug and play, and more popular. Why would Agfa continue to support those scanners under OS 10.3 after Apple introduced Firewire in the Blue and White G3's many years ago?

 

[Pedro Estarque]

Costumer respect policy?
So I'm just supposed to trow away a gr8 Scanner that handles chromes, negatives and reflectives with exceptional quality, speed and resolution and buy firewire just because its cool and new?

( remember thing$ in Brazil aren't as ea$y as in the US )

 

[ftaok]

If you can wait, you might want to check THIS out.