What you need to know about internal and external print servers You'll find both internal and external print servers. External devices plug into the printer via a parallel or serial port, and then connect to a network node, just like a workstation, to complete the connection. External print servers need to be plugged into a power outlet. These generally work only with specific printer models, so you need to make sure an internal print server will work with your printer before you purchase it.
Network printers come with an internal print server already installed.
One advantage of external print servers is that they can support multiple printers at a time, so one external device can do the job of several internal print servers. Generally, they can also support a broader range of printer models, including those that don't have internal slots. Most external devices also have lights indicating current printer status, and some have small screens which display printer status messages. Almost all print servers today, whether internal or external, come with administrative tools that let network managers remotely monitor printer performance and detect problems. All Rights Reserved.