Windows 7 guest/Mac OS host wireless printing issue

[drdoug72]

Hi. We are running a Windows 7 guest machine on a Mac OS X host (OS version 10.6.5). We've had no problems setting up the VM - well, almost none - and every thing seems nice and stable. Except that we want to print wirelessly from our Windows 7 guest to our home printer.

Our home printer is a Epson Stylus NX 215. It's connected via USB cable to a USB hub, which is connected to our iMac. We have Printer Sharing enabled on the iMac and can wirelessly print to it from the Mac OS host with no problems.

The alternative of course is simply to save all of our documents in the Shared Folder and switch from the Windows guest to the Mac host whenever we want to print, but that's an extra step I'd rather avoid.

I've tried adding the Epson as a new printer in the Windows guest, but to no avail. I've also searched the user forums here and elsewhere on the interwebs for advice and have come up empty-handed. I will admit to being something of a novice with VMs, Windows 7, wireless networking, and so forth, so please feel free to offer whatever advice you can.

Many thanks.

[stefan.becker]

Have you tried Bridged as NIC Type in the guest settings?

[drdoug72]

I haven't yet, but I will. It looks like that will create a software bridge between the Windows guest and the physical wireless card on the Mac host, correct?

[drdoug72]

Any suggestions on next steps? I've changed my VM to be Bridged as NIC, but still nothing.

Thanks.

[stefan.becker]

If the printer works on the host, then share it and use it in the guest as network printer over the host.