Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Anyone using Brother MFC 8890DW on Win Server 2008

Is anyone using the Brother MFC 8890DW and scanning docs directly to a network server folder? Brother tells me that we cannot scan to a server since their software only works on client machines.

Does HP have a scanner/faxing m/c that I can configure and receive docs directly to my Windows 2008 Server.

I could be wrong, but that doesn't sound right. Have you asked them why it doesn't work on a server which is a computer when it works on a client which is a computer?

What part of the server computer makes it impossible to use?

Apparently their software does not run on Windows Server 2008!

I have noted lots of software will not run on a machine with SERVER SOFTWARE, most notably being antivirus - it is because they want to sell you a more expensive server version.

Well I got it to work this way. I ran the their software on one of the Client machines (selected the 'Scan to PC option) and then configured the Destination Folder for Scans and Faxes to the Network share.


What a crock.

Unless there is something that Bert, I and others are missing, there is nothing that precludes it from writing the scanned document to mounted network drive.

At an OS level, once a network share is mounted as a drive (authenticated, has a drive letter), the OS treats it as a drive on that machine. End of story; I smell FUD, or more likely, ignorance.

Exactly. Plus there isn't a folder called Program Files (x86) for nothing.

sbc: that's what I had to do as well because it won't scan directly to the server.

The software on my Brother machine won't allow writing to the server directly. I'm sure there is a way but I'm way to lazy and ignorant to find it. My server is set-up a little differently though without a mounted drive. If I mount the drive with a drive letter, it would probably work.

On another note since we're talking about Brothers: My Brother fax machine is listed at 125 Volts instead of the normal 120V. I have 3 different UPS back-up devices and all kick-off or alert everytime the machine is used/comes on/etc. So I've had to just use the surge protector side of the UPS. I would really like my fax machine to have battery back-up. Anyone else have this problem? There must be a solution for this. My CyberPower UPS has a setting for up to 140V in theory but it still kicks it off if the Fax machine kicks on. Weird.

I again am probably wrong, but I think this is why a lot of people connect it by USB to the "server." I don't know why you can't connect to the server.

I hate typing this, because so many people use the Brother. But, there are just so many issues with it. They don't import in PDF. All sorts of networking issues. I know they are pretty good at what they do and they are inexpensive, but I think you are much better off with a more expensive Muratec.

Indy - I now get the doc on to my network share. However the Printer can only recognize client machines which has XP/Vista/Win7 running the Brother software. The Brother software does not run on the Win 2008 Server so the Printer (even though it is a network device) does not see a server.

sbc

sbc,

Sorry to keep commenting as I do not have the Brother. But, I don't understand why you need any software on the server. For instance, we have our shared folder for all faxes and scans on the server. Total software. None. You simply program the path you want the fax machine to fax to or scan to.

I do know I tried to help someone with a Brother once, and it was weird.

I guess you have it working. If you really needed software to run on the server, you could set up Microsoft's Virtual PC or VMWare.

sbc,

I'm know very little about Brother software itself, but I'm fairly confident that you can share the printer from a machine(XP/Vista/W7) that has it installed to other users on the network. A limitation will be the shared printer will only work for clients that have their drivers loaded on the sharing machine.

Everyone has their own methods and priorities, but I'd suggest that even at what the Govt pays for your time per hour, you probably could have installed UpDox and paid for their fax service (and included patient portal) for a year.

At the end of the day, YMMV.

There must be a reason hardly anyone starts a thread on Dell, HP, Xerox, Toshiba, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung.....

I don't have your exact Brother machine but my machine must be connected by USB to a client. So your options are either scan to the client computer and make that folder shareable through the network. Or, what I do mainly because the server has duplicate capabilities and great backup is map a network drive on the client machine with the "network drive" being the folder that the scans get sent to. The major problem with this is that the client machine must never fail as it is a pass through device.

I'm with Bert a little on this. I obviously have the Brother machines which are very dependable, inexpensive, and easy to work with. That being said, some of the capabilities are quite limited, one of which is the inability to scan directly to a .pdf file. That drives me nuts.

I'm going to jump into the fray as a big Brother fan-boy. I have a number of their network laser printers, and the 8890DW as well. I think its unfair to compare them to the Canons or Xerox machines and especially to the Muratec, which can top out at a cool $10K --- for a multifunction...golly!

For about $300, the Brothers are a great deal. I have been running a Brother network laser printer (5250 I think) continuously since 2007, almost 55,000 pages printed, still making an excellent print. In the same time, I have junked multiple Oki's, HPs and Canons. Compare a Canon multifunction to a Brother 8890. Canon costs a few bucks more, wired networking, but the Brother is wireless also. The expendables for the Canon are $30 to $40 per toner cartridge more, and only print 3,000 pages to the Brother's 5,000.

You have to look at everything you want to use the multifunction for, not just whether it scans to your server. The Brother software is made for a peer-to-peer workgroup, and the software on each peer is rock solid and easy to use. I can fax from every workgroup computer through my 8890, and it saves the faxes sent to it until the line in open, if an incoming fax has the line. Try getting the Fax Server Role set up to do the same thing on Windows Server 2008, and tell me which is simpler to configure and keep operational.

IMHO, Brother doesn't want the headache of writing compatible software for Windows Server 2008 -- its not their target market.

A lot of laser printers (which the 8890 is) require too much amperage to run on a surge protector. It's not the voltage, but the amperage. They will suck the power out of the battery in a few seconds.

Can you get a cheap one that requires a lot less power, and then just switch if the power goes out.

I wonder if you could have a fax machine at home (thinking it is far enough away to not be affected) and then just forward the fax line.

@John,

You are right in a lot of ways. I appreciate your view point, but I have to respectfully disagree. (But, I will admit it is from my view point).

To quote you, sometimes you have to look at other things. The Muratec is a lot less than $10,000 at least the one we used. We now use a Xerox which is $8,000, and I guess it is just what one needs.

There is no excuse for any MFP to not scan to PDF or allow software on a server. Plus, I still don't get why you can't just set the path to a shared folder. But, that is probably just one more thing a Brother can't do. For the money, you're right, but they are still in the dark ages. They have to provide you software to convert from TIFF to PDF. If they know you want PDF, then import to PDF.

I would also say that for that market niche, they are a good deal. But, even at $700, they ought to be able to do those few things.

I love HP and Xerox. My point wasn't that Canon is a better choice. I despise Canon. My point was you don't hear about them or mainly the HPs, Toshibas or Xerox because their engineers decided to allow them to work with PDFs and servers.

Any person I have ever talked to (and of course that is a selection bias as the ones with no issues don't say anything) has networking issues, pdf issues and path issues.

Love ya John. We will just have to agree to disagree on this one. And, I have to give you 5 points on the fact that those others are more expensive.

Do I wish my Brother would fax directly to .pdf? yes. It does scan directly to .pdf at least. Do I wish it would allow me to fax directly to my server? Yes. Unfortunately it's software requires a direct USB connection (to my knowledge although it can be networked so I'm going to look a little more into this. I do believe it requires a direct USB connection to a client)

Is it the single best multifunction device I have ever owned in print quality/dependability, especially for the price? Yes, by far.

I have a high end HP MFP that I intended to use in the front office and use it's fax/copy/scanner. It failed in the first month, had to be shipped back, replaced, still having some less major issues with software/drivers. And I love HP stuff, especially laser printers. So I throw the little $260 Brother up front while the HP is out for replacement. Left it there and haven't replaced it. My front office crew love it.

Converting faxes to .pdf is a 3 second process with Paperport on any computer in the office because the "received faxes" folder is shared. Many of the faxes need to be split up anyway and cover sheets discarded.

Its not perfect, but I could buy 5 of them for the cost of my Fujitsu scanner that I have never used.

Solo docs need inexpensive, dependable equipment/software. Amazing Charts and Brother work.

I am glad you like your Brother. There is more than one way to work with files when they come in and several will not work at all if you need a 3rd party software program to convert it. Sure, I can convert nearly any file into a PDF, but it simply isn't the same. My point is that with all the others you don't have the complaints on here of USB connection, Paperport version incompatibilities, etc.

It may be the best by far for you. That is great. But, I have used one also, and it can't hold a candle to a Xerox or Toshiba.

Why would you want to buy five of them. And, I am a humble solo doc who, as a pediatrician, makes less than just about anyone. And, I need dependable equipment. I don't need software with a Xerox. And, sometimes I like expensive. Sometimes it's better.

Oh, and I have never had to use a Fujitsu.

Sorry Travis, that last post came across a little defensive. I don't mean to bash the Brother, there is no MFP, costwise, in its class.

I just read these posts over and over about what the Brother can't do, and I just don't understand why a company that can make such a good MFP, can't figure out (or doesn't want to) how to import to PDF or network better or have software that runs on 2008. It isn't as if 2008 OS in 640-bit haven't been out long.

I can't think of how Nuance benefits from packaging their softwar with Brother, but that seems like one of the major reasons it is there.

I have a Brother that I use just to occasionally scan (flatbed for very rare use) and to color copy - bought cheap and really never used. I do think the software bundle is advantageous, but they make money off people choosing to buy an upgrade for a newer version - if you can give people something for nothing, but get them to pay $30-100 per year to upgrade you are going to make money. I think this is the same reason that McAfee or Norton comes on almost every new computer - long term investment strategy.

I also think Brother has a vested interest in getting you to stay with paper ---- anybody priced toner/ink ? I think it would be unreasonable to make a cheap product that never prints - only goes to desktop, that is how they make money.

I just googled Paperport Professional 11 - seems to run $170.00 which makes it great to get someone using it and then offer upgrades.

I would be willing to let a Brother rep to forego using the Vendor forum and come on the main board.

I didn't take it as defensive at all Bert. Just a constructive talk about hardware. No doubt in my mind that there are other MFP that are better. But I have the Brother in the office now, it works well, and I'll change it when it croaks.

My main request is not the format that it comes in although .pdf would be ideal. I think Brother does it because of a deal with Nuance.

I just wish it could receive a fax and place it directly on my server through an ethernet connection and not have to be connected to a client which then transfers it over to the server. I know others can do this which would be a reason to switch.

Thanks Travis. I know Indy and I are baffled by the inability of it to go directly to the server. Just doesn't make sense. But, I do seem to recall a user from this town (not Adam) who had the Brother and I went over there and tried to do it and couldn't either. That was over two years ago then.

BTW, what blows my mind is that the Brother will scan directly to pdf but won't fax directly to pdf? What in the world is that all about.

I will get you into a Muratec one of these days.

Maybe... if my office grows exponentially I'll invest in a $4,000 dollar MFP

Haven't priced it in three years, but I don't think the Muratec MFX 1450 is $4,000.

Face it Bert, I think you have lost this one:)

DISCLAIMER: The message below should not be construed as "Bert-baiting about Brother".

I mentioned to my office manager about the Brother-won't-fax-to-PDF controversy raging on this thread, and she told me her low-tech method of converting faxes to PDFs. She takes the paper fax page from the output tray of the Brother MFC, and puts it back into the document feeder, and scans it to her computer. Yes, the Brother MFCs will network-scan to PDF (but not fax to PDF -- go figure).

Yes I know, it's not paperless -- okay, okay. (Bracing myself now for Bert's response).

the paper way works too, just as John says. Agreed that it's odd that it scans directly to pdf but not fax.

We don't have adobe on all the computers anyway but we do have paperport. So it's just as simple for us to open the .tif file, discard the cover page, and save as .pdf. Not really that difficult honestly and just works well for us.

It would be nice if it faxed directly to .pdf but definitely not a necessity.

oh Brother

To the issue of PDFs, I would bring up again what was pointed out at ACUC2010 (think is was Wendel first), OpenOffice is a great way to open almost anything and save it as a PDF.

For those of the FOSS persuasion, I would add that while there are some great PDF viewers out there (e.g. SumatraPDF) that out-perform Abobe bloat-ware, AC will choke on them as PDF viewers. Just to save you some frustration.

I hate Adobe as much a the next guy. But, remember, without Adobe, there would be no 100 free PDF viewers and print drivers.

I have no beef with the first 6-7 versions of Adobe, and everyone has to find a way to make money, this I know.

But, the last few versions of Adobe have become increasingly bloated, and at the same time they have become a favorite of hackers - for which Microsoft sent a thank you note.

print to cute PDF,
We mark it up and print to cute PDF.
While there are other PDF printer programs out there, this is the one I like and use and did I mention it was FREE!

OK I will throw my two cents on this one 1st off ususally the server is setup and then left alone in some dark secluded room perferably cold... But if you need to use the server as a workstation then try the following 1. try to run the software in XP compatilility mode or download windows virtual PC and run the software in there.

Where did that come from?