Adding Networked HP LJ printer under XP?

[DaveC]

There are a couple of HP LJ 2100's on the LAN, but I'm having no success
adding them to the XP computers so that they can print to them.

When I go to XP's Add Printer Wizard, and go through the steps, when I get to
"Choose a printer to add" (not an exact quote...), the printer doesn't show
up in the list.

What am I doing wrong?

The printer I'm trying to add first is a LJ 2100tn, which is cabled to the
10baseT network.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dell laptop; Windows XP Home Edition; HP LJ 2100tn w/jetdirect 10/100
ethernet card.

Thanks,
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DaveC
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[www.JimWilliamson.net]

There are a couple of HP LJ 2100's on the LAN, but I'm having no success
adding them to the XP computers so that they can print to them.

When I go to XP's Add Printer Wizard, and go through the steps, when I get to
"Choose a printer to add" (not an exact quote...), the printer doesn't show
up in the list.

What am I doing wrong?

The printer I'm trying to add first is a LJ 2100tn, which is cabled to the
10baseT network.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dell laptop; Windows XP Home Edition; HP LJ 2100tn w/jetdirect 10/100
ethernet card.

Thanks,

Assumption: The LJ is accessible via a known IP address and you want to
print directly to the printer (and not through some other print server).

Start the Add Printer wizard and "Next" the first screen
Second Screen - Select local printer and no "Auto detect", Next
Third Screen - Create a New Port - Standard TCP/IP Port, Next
Next
Enter the IP Address of the printer (let it fill in the port name or change
as desired), Next
If asked for the "Device Type" select "Hewlett Packard Jet Direct" from the
list, Next
Finish on the port creation
You should be at the Manufacturer / Model name screen - Scroll down to "HP"
for the Man and "HP LaserJet 2100 PCL6" for the model. My XP Home default
install shows this model to select from. If yours still does not then
leave the screen right here and head over to HP.com and download the
desired driver (they have them listed as I just checked). Once they are
downloaded and expanded to a directory you can flip back to the printer
list and hit "Have Disk" where you can navigate to the location of the
newly downloaded drivers.

One tip - as long you click "Finish" on the create port section the port is
created so if you cancel out of the printer install you may simply re-start
the printer install and select your created IP port from the "Use the
Following Port List" which defaults to saying LPT1.

 

[DaveC]

Assumption: The LJ is accessible via a known IP address and you want to
print directly to the printer (and not through some other print server).

The printers have JetDirect 10/100-baseT ethernet cards installed. They are
not connected directly to another computer.

Does your procedure still apply? Or is that *only* for a printer connected
directly to a computer (via USB or parallel)?

I presume the JetDirect card has an IP address, but the HP Printer Utility
doesn't show it or allow setting it.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
--
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ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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[DaveC]

I presume the JetDirect card has an IP address, but the HP Printer Utility
doesn't show it or allow setting it.

Nor does the IP show up in the Add Printer wizard, when browsing the network.

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[Al Dykes]

The printers have JetDirect 10/100-baseT ethernet cards installed. They are
not connected directly to another computer.

Does your procedure still apply? Or is that *only* for a printer connected
directly to a computer (via USB or parallel)?

I presume the JetDirect card has an IP address, but the HP Printer Utility
doesn't show it or allow setting it.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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IMO the best way to talk to a HP printer/jetdirect card is via the
LPR/LPRD protocol. In XP you click on "add a printer", pick networked
printer, and somehow plug in the IP address of your printer.

I've done this for dozens of printers and many many w/98 and w2k
systems, and a few XP systems but MS changes the dialog for each new
OS and I haven't done enough XP systems to have it memorized, but it
workes great.

You might have to add "unix printing utilities" (or some name like
that in XP setup. It may not be the default in your XP system.

The printer needs LPR server turned on in the Jetdirect setup screen
on the printer.

 

[Al Dykes]

The printers have JetDirect 10/100-baseT ethernet cards installed. They are
not connected directly to another computer.

Does your procedure still apply? Or is that *only* for a printer connected
directly to a computer (via USB or parallel)?

I presume the JetDirect card has an IP address, but the HP Printer Utility
doesn't show it or allow setting it.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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HP printers give you a choice of 3 or 4 LAN printing protocols. IP
imay not be on. You need to manually assign a valid IP address. You
do this with the buttons on the control panel. Pick one that's valid
for your LAN, but outside your DHCP range.


Don't forget the IP mask, too. IP addresses is a whole topic on it's
won.

 

[www.JimWilliamson.net]

Nor does the IP show up in the Add Printer wizard, when browsing the network.

Hello Dave,

The procedure I outlined does apply so long as you are using TCP/IP on your
network (to talk between the workstation(s) and the printer(s)). Let's dig
a bit deeper. Both end devices (workstation and printer) will need an IP
address. You will have to presume that an initial factory IP address, if
any, on the printer is not correct for what you ultimately need or want.

I assume you have TCP/IP networking protocol listed on your workstation -
yes? I'll also assume you have full Administrator rights at the
workstation.

To do a simple check of your IP settings do this:
Start > Run > CMD > OK
Type in IPCONFIG /ALL [and press Enter]
Note the IP Address & Subnet Mask of your main (only) network interface
card. Note also if your address lists a "DHCP Enabled - Yes" setting
(which means your system is automagically getting this address information
from a DHCP server).

Now, unless you have configured the printer or the printer is
pre-configured, you will need to use the software utilities that came with
the printer to config it (or follow the instructions that came with the
printer). In the end the printer needs an IP address and subnet mask and
with this info set on the printer you can follow my initial post. The
subnet mask will most likely be the same but the IP address will be
different from that listed on your PC.

But, this is where it the install path can diverge depending upon your
network config. We'd need to know more about your network. Are you the
administrator of it or is there someone else? Is it DHCP'd or static
assignment? Do you have a static address to assign to this printer (you
will most likely want a static address for the printer)?

If you are not the admin I'd suggest taking this over to him or her for
followthrough or at least to get an address/mask for you to use. If you
are the admin reply back with what network setup you are using ("I have 3
PC's and this printer connected to a Linksys/Netgear/etc box that is
connected to the DSL/Cable modem").

Bottom line you're probably getting close. As an aside have you viewed
some of HP's help documents for this printer - they have a fair amount on
their site (though with most networking items it is difficult to make it
100% spot on and complete for your setup).

 

[David Efflandt]

The printers have JetDirect 10/100-baseT ethernet cards installed. They are
not connected directly to another computer.

Does your procedure still apply? Or is that *only* for a printer connected
directly to a computer (via USB or parallel)?

Yes, the procedure to set a "local" TCP port for the JetDirect IP applies.
This has nothing at all to do with "Windows" file/printer sharing or
directly connected (via USB or parallel).

I presume the JetDirect card has an IP address, but the HP Printer Utility
doesn't show it or allow setting it.

What HP Printer Utility? The method of setting up a "local" TCP port for
JetDirect (which usually works best) does not involve HP software. HP
software would only come into play if Windows does not include a driver
for the specific printer (next step "after" configuring the TCP port.

Find out the JetDirect IP by printing the JetDirect config from the
printer itself (no PC connection required). Either the printer should
have directions for that, or separate JetDirects have a test button to
print their config to an attached printer.

 

[Al Dykes]

Yes, the procedure to set a "local" TCP port for the JetDirect IP applies.
This has nothing at all to do with "Windows" file/printer sharing or
directly connected (via USB or parallel).


What HP Printer Utility? The method of setting up a "local" TCP port for
JetDirect (which usually works best) does not involve HP software. HP
software would only come into play if Windows does not include a driver
for the specific printer (next step "after" configuring the TCP port.

HP has jetdirect remote administration software can remotly configure
an out-of-the-box jetdirect printer remotly, without having to touch
the machine. Not really necessary for most people.

Find out the JetDirect IP by printing the JetDirect config from the
printer itself (no PC connection required). Either the printer should
have directions for that, or separate JetDirects have a test button to
print their config to an attached printer.

You need to pick an unused IP address in the range used by your LAN,
and enter it with via the buttons on the front panel. You need to
enter a valid mask, the same way. The gateway entry can be left blank.

You can find the manual for your printer on the HP.com web site. It
will tell you how to enter an IP # in your printer.

For a simple small LAN, looking at the settings in your DSL/Cable
router will tell you what a good IP address is for your printer. It
should not be a DHCP-assigned address.

 

[DaveC]

I've succeeded in adding the printer for each of the 3 XP systems. I used the
printer's IP address that was listed on the printer's configuration page I
printed out to configure the printer driver.

My only question is whether the printer's IP address is fixed at the factory,
or if it is assigned by the DHCP router I'm using to assign IP addresses to
the computer.

If the former, the drivers I installed on the computers will continue to
print to the printer. If it is the latter case, the whole thing is going to
go into the garbage can whenever the DHCP router decides to assign new IP's.
Which is it? How can I find out?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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[DaveC]

My only question is whether the printer's IP address is fixed at the factory,

or if it is assigned by the DHCP router I'm using to assign IP addresses to
the computer.

Maybe I answered my own question. The printer's IP is 10.0.1.15. This is
outside the DHCP's address range, yes? Which means it's fixed, for all
intents and purposes?

Thanks,
--
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ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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[Al Dykes]

Maybe I answered my own question. The printer's IP is 10.0.1.15. This is
outside the DHCP's address range, yes? Which means it's fixed, for all
intents and purposes?

Thanks,
--

The config printout will tell you if the printer got it's IP via DHCP_, or not.

There is no universal "DHCP" address range. Linksys routers, and similar products,
default to subset of a "public" IP address range that is as defined in RFC 1918

(http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1918.html)

Within your IP range, as defined by your mask, you will find that the DHCP server
assignes part of te range, leaving the rest of the range for address that can't change,
like your printer. For example;


192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.254 is a public "class C" block.

the DHCP in your linksys box will default to assigning IPs from
192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.150, leaving 192.168.1.2 - to 192.168.1.99
for address assigned by hand.

The mask, in this case, is 255.255.255.0

If you hit the web admin page for your router and look in the main and
DHCP tabs you will see everything you need to know.

This assumes you have no servers or other LAN equipment, other than
DHCP-controlled machines.

IF YOUR COMPANY HAS A LAN ADMIN AND YOU ARE DOING THIS STUFF WITHOUT
CHECKING WITH HIM YOU DESERVE ANYTHING HE CHOOSES TO DO TO YOU WHEN HE
CATCHES YOU.