The “windows network” throws me too. Maybe rephrase it. Do you mean authenticate a Linux PC to a windows domain server?
Yes, I am not 100 percent sure what he is trying to accomplish.
In general Linux see’s windows stuff pretty easily. In addition to using a usb plug in router hard drive, there is plenty of cross platform uses on the cloud.
I didn’t check on how obscure the printer is, but I have not had any printer problems in at least 3 years, and I have used a bunch of different ones from common to rare.