How does the scanner function normally work? Can you scan from any machine on the network? Does it use a special program from HP to "capture" the scanner so you scan to a specific computer? I am not familiar with the all-in-one devices so that is why I am asking.
When I first bought the computer it was connected to a Windows XP machine and I had to use the included HP software, which was bloated, slow and loathsome. I updated to Windows 7 a while ago and HP does not offer the same software for this OS. Instead there's a simple driver which Windows 7 provides for you, and you use the included Windows 7 Fax and Scan application instead of the HP software. This is highly preferable as it does not bog down my system.
But with all the connected devices in my home, I am much more interested in networking this device so it's accessible to all the machines on my network. There does not seem to be a Windows Fax and Scan application readily available in Vail, but if someone knows of a way to get a scanning client that would run under Vail, it would allow me to scan without having to unplug the all-in-one from my server and connect it to a PC/Laptop.
Your best bet is to install the AIO device to a client and map a drive to the server to where the documents would be scanned to. Directly connected to the server, the printing function should be straight forward, but do not expect to be able to scan from a client.
I considered this as a possible solution, but I don't like the notion that I would have to keep another PC local to the printer powered on all the time along with the server so that I could print from a third or fourth remote machine when I want to. I'd rather have the printer connected to the server most of the time to facilitate network printing which would be the most common use.
