A system and method of connecting a computer to a printer which reduces the number of hardware printing devices. An example method includes determining that a virtual printer is available for use, broadcasting over a network that the peripheral is available for use, receiving a request from the first computer through a web service to connect to the virtual printer, mapping the virtual printer to the first computer, and sending information to the first computer through the web service to facilitate connection by the first computer to the virtual printer through the second computer.