My latest electronic dilemma.

[Muddy]

I installed a new wireless router and now I can't print. The printers are connected via network cable.

[Muddy]

I uninstalled one printer and tried to reinstall, but the software can't even find the printer.

[Muddy]

My gut tells me it has something to do with the IP address.

[pctec]

This is a Zap question... the only way I have ever shared a printer was by using a USB cable on one computer and then sharing it on the network. I never have used an actual LAN cable on a printer so I'm pretty much guessing but I would think it might have something to do with the printers IP and subnet mask... (just a guess though)

[pctec]

Jeesh!!!!!
Answer your own questions why don't ya ;)

[Muddy]

Jeesh!!!!!
Answer your own questions why don't ya ;)

LOL! Knowing what it is and how to fix it are two different things!

[Ferre]

I use a printer server for that. :sqbiggrin:

Google (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=printer+server&aq=f&aqi=g-s10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=3280b7baa5b2bf13)

[Zap]

I'm going to guess that you haven't turned off the DHCP server in that spiffy new router, thereby circumventing the actual DHCP server you have on your network, which is supposed to hand out the correct DHCP address to that printer, if I remember correctly.
Or, even worse, the new router may not be configured with the same IP addressing scheme as your current server and network. That will need to be fixed before anything on that new router can communicate with the rest of your network.

[pctec]

wHOLIE cRAP zAPPY IS sMARTICAL!

[Muddy]

I'm going to guess that you haven't turned off the DHCP server in that spiffy new router, thereby circumventing the actual DHCP server you have on your network, which is supposed to hand out the correct DHCP address to that printer, if I remember correctly.
Or, even worse, the new router may not be configured with the same IP addressing scheme as your current server and network. That will need to be fixed before anything on that new router can communicate with the rest of your network.

Do I just need to change the IP address on the router to match the one on the printer(s)?

[Zap]

Do I just need to change the IP address on the router to match the one on the printer(s)?

Not exactly. It needs to be in the same range, but can not be exactly the same.
If your range is 192.168.1.X, then choose something like 192.168.1.2 or 192.168.1.5 for the router.
I like to reserve 1-5 for routers, switches and other networking equipment, 10-20 for servers and above 20 for printers with workstations starting at 100.


Make sure the IP you assign to the router isn't already in use on your network.
And, make sure to turn DHCP off on that router. Your server is already handling DHCP and there should only be one on your network.

[Muddy]

Well, I've totally screwed something up. Turned DHCP off and now I can't connect to the router at all. Had to plug in.

[Muddy]

OK, called tech support and got the router working again. They said I can't disable DHCP or the router will only work as a switch. At least I'm wireless again...now for these damn printers...

[Strong]

I suggest you buy an old fashioned typewriter. :sqwink:

Actually, having used one and learnt to type on one, I would revise my suggestion and say buy a nice pen, a ruler and a pencil, coloured if you are arty.

Damn this modern age of technology!

[Zap]

OK, called tech support and got the router working again. They said I can't disable DHCP or the router will only work as a switch. At least I'm wireless again...now for these damn printers...

That's rare, that they would make the router that way.
Your server is also a DHCP server, which means you will have IP conflicts.
Devices on your network will stop communicating if they receive an IP address identical to one that was previously handed out by the other DHCP server.

[Muddy]

That's rare, that they would make the router that way.
Your server is also a DHCP server, which means you will have IP conflicts.
Devices on your network will stop communicating if they receive an IP address identical to one that was previously handed out by the other DHCP server.

It seems to me, in my limited knowledge of such things, that if an IP is assigned to the router it should be OK if DHCP is turned off. It should continue to work just fine with that IP. I definitely lost connection when I disabled it though...

[Muddy]

I'm uninstalling a printer and will try reinstalling to see what happens.

[Zap]

It seems to me, in my limited knowledge of such things, that if an IP is assigned to the router it should be OK if DHCP is turned off. It should continue to work just fine with that IP. I definitely lost connection when I disabled it though...

DHCP Server gives out IP info to devices requesting it.
DHCP Client asks for IP info from any DHCP server that may be listening on the network.

You should be able to turn both server and client off on the router and assign it a static IP address. For the hardware manufacturer to ensure differently is stupid. I would never use it in an office environment for that reason, and, therefore, never recommend it to a client of mine. Most routers are configured with a static IP address and have their DHCP turned off because that's usually managed by an in-house Windows server like in your case.
Maybe the guy was talking about the EXTERNAL DHCP client??? The DHCP client would have to be functioning on the external interface in order to receive IP info from your ISP and get internet access. Could this be what he meant?

[Muddy]

I'm uninstalling a printer and will try reinstalling to see what happens.

I should say, one more time...

[Muddy]

DHCP Server gives out IP info to devices requesting it.
DHCP Client asks for IP info from any DHCP server that may be listening on the network.

You should be able to turn both server and client off on the router and assign it a static IP address. For the hardware manufacturer to ensure differently is stupid. I would never use it in an office environment for that reason, and, therefore, never recommend it to a client of mine. Most routers are configured with a static IP address and have their DHCP turned off because that's usually managed by an in-house Windows server like in your case.
Maybe the guy was talking about the EXTERNAL DHCP client??? The DHCP client would have to be functioning on the external interface in order to receive IP info from your ISP and get internet access. Could this be what he meant?

It could very well be what he meant. His English was broken of course and I awkwardly had to ask him to repeat himself many times. The router's ip address is 192.168.2.1 but when I turned off DHCP I could no longer access it. Nor did I have an internet connection until I plugged straight into the modem.

[Zap]

It could very well be what he meant. His English was broken of course and I awkwardly had to ask him to repeat himself many times. The router's ip address is 192.168.2.1 but when I turned off DHCP I could no longer access it. Nor did I have an internet connection until I plugged straight into the modem.

What's the IP address of your server?

[Muddy]

How do I look that up?

[Zap]

Go to the server.
Start > Run > CMD
In the command window, enter the following and hit ENTER...

ipconfig /all

[Muddy]

192.168.2.3

[Muddy]

The printer (main one) is 192.168.1.45

[Zap]

The printer (main one) is 192.168.1.45

There's your problem.

Your server and workstations are at 192.168.2.X but your printer is at 192.168.1.X.
You need to change the printer to 192.168.2.45 (assuming nothing is using that IP).
Then you can communicate with it and then you can setup the workstations to print to it.

[Muddy]

Okie dokie..lemme try that and report back...

[Muddy]

All is well! Thanks once again Zap!

[pctec]

He is the man isn't he...

[Muddy]

He is the man isn't he...

Nothing less than superhuman! Or is "he" a woman?

[pctec]

I wonders if I moved to Ontario would Zap give me a job and teach me almost everything he knows...

[Muddy]

He knows a thing or two about hot Russian chicks too.

[pctec]

All the more reason to move there :D