Abstract: Multiple host computers on a network are connected through an interface, or network adapter, to a printer having a printer controller capable of bi-directional communication with the computers on the network. The interface communicates with the network computers in a manner to present a different virtual printer to each host computer. The interface maintains a data set for each host computer which includes designations of the types of printer status information of interest to that host. The interface is capable of communicating with the printer controller to obtain a range of printer status information, and the interface communicates with each host computer to present printer status information of interest to that computer based upon that computer's data set. In the disclosed form of the invention, the interface notifies each interested host computer concerning types of printer status information to which changes have occurred; and the host computers communicate requests for more detailed information.