Firewall Blocking USB Print Server

Have the application firewall enabled.

open your console.app found in /Applications/Utilities

Then scroll down the list of log files on the left and under /var/log there is

appfirewall.log

click on that and watch the log, then try connecting to your print server.
What entries show up in the log?

Do you have your firewall set to 'Set access for specific programs' or set to 'Allow only essential services'?

Miss Meek wrote:
essential services

I suspect that is the problem.
As a test, set it to allow all services and see if you can print. If so, then try setting it for specific services as stated above.

More to the point, as detailed here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1810

Allow only essential services:

This is the most conservative mode. Mac OS X will block all connections except a limited list of services essential to the operation of your computer.

The system services that are still allowed to receive incoming connections are:

* configd, which implements DHCP and other network configuration services
* mDNSResponder, which implements Bonjour
* racoon, which implements IPSec

essential services

That is the problem then. I found on my systems that when only essentials services is selected it blocks all my bonjour connections. So I use set access for specific applications which is just as secure and that fixed my problems.

That was it. Allowing "all incoming connections"

When you setup 'set access for specific services and applications' the first time the Mac detects an incoming connection for something you have not already specified it normally prompts you to allow or disallow the connection.

So change to that setting.

I'm new to the Mac universe so I'm a little paranoid at dropping the firewall all together.

You dont need to worry. Even if you turn off the application firewall you are still firewalled. Your router is a firewall. I only use the built in firewall on my portable macbookpro when I take it to public wifi hotspots. At my home/office when connected to my network I dont enable it. There is no need.

The only additional security I have installed on my mac is Little Snitch. Little Snitch is an application aware firewall that controls your outgoing connections. This is useful as it will prevent any unautorised application accessing the internet, this stops phone home apps and malware.

little snitch

Even if you turn off the application firewall you are still firewalled. Your router is a firewall

Assuming the firewall on the router is enabled.

Assuming the firewall on the router is enabled.

Most consumer routers have their firewall switched on my by default and failing that they would most certainly be doing NAT anyway which effectively firewalls you also.