Attaching printer to router
 

I have a wireless/wired Linksys router which currently has one computer attached via cable and another accessing via wireless. I would like to attach a printer to be shared by both.

I bought a cheap printer with only a parallel connection. Is there any inexpensive piece of hardware which would allow me to attach the printer directly to the router?

I was considering attaching the printer the the wired computer and allowing printer sharing, but I have heard that even though the hardware firewall and my software firewalls, this is a bad idea.

You want a print server. The HP JetDirects are the classics and have the price to show for it. I have been happy with Netgear ones that I have at work, but practically everybody who makes network gizmos will have an option for you. Price probably $50 to $75 if you're getting one with one parallel port and one ethernet port. Plug it into your printer and router respectively and run the installer on each computer; you'll be in business. You can get wireless ones but of course they cost a bit more.

If you really have a router that's set up not to pass SMB (the M$ file-sharing protocols), and you don't mind some of the logistical tradeoffs (can't print when the printer-connected computer is turned off, etc.), I don't see why you shouldn't share it off of the computer.