Have an HP LaserJet 5P attached to a JetDirect 170x External Print Server for Ethernet. I can print a test page by pushing the test button on the JetDirect box. Can't, however, figure out how to make the printer a stand alone printer on a peer to peer network. Need to place the printer in a central location for several people to have access; therefore, no very easy to hook it up directly to a PC. Any & all help..GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thank you!

If the printer isn't network ready then you can't use it as a stand alone, I don't think.

The easiest way is to telnet into the jet direct box and change the IP address to one that is compatable with the rest of your network.

First you will want to reset the jet direct box to it's default IP address. unplug the power supply and hold down the button you used to print the test page and plug the power supply back in. This will reset the default IP address to 192.0.0.192. Now connect a crossover network cable between the printer and a computer. Set the Computers address to 192.0.0.191. Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and the gateway to 192.0.0.1 Now you can either use the built in Telnet program in Windows by going to Start Run and type in Telnet or Go do a Google search for a program called Putty and use that. I prefer Putty for Telnet because it's way better then the one bult into Windows. Launch the telnet program and type in 192.0.0.192 and you will now be connected to the JetDirect 170X box. Type in /? and it will show you all the commands you need to change the IP address on the 170X box to one that will work on your network. Once you changed the IP adress and saved the configuration, just use a regular network cable between the 170X box and your network connection and your all set.