Internet Protocol Printing Help

[lizrdb]

We have a remote office with the following configuration:

Linksys router to the outside world
HP Switch for wall ports
Linksys Print Server connected via USB to an HP printer
All conputers are running Windows XP sp2

Within the last two months, they have been unable to add a printer to
any computer in the office. Previously, the IT person would go to
Start | Settings | Printer and Faxes, choose to add a network printer
and then connect to an internet printer. The URL that has been used
is:
http://<ip address of print server>:631/ipp/P2

An error message is returned at this point (when you click Next) -
"Windows cannot connect to the printer. Either the printer name was
typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has lost its connection to
the server. For more information, click Help."

We have set up a test environment in this office to see if we could
replicate the problem - and we can. We are using the same model print
server and router to the outside world. I have tried using different
paths (such as http://ip address of print
server:631/printers/laserjet4/.printer) but nothing works. I have also
tried to add the printer using the rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry
command but that fails (after copying the files) with the following:
"Operation could not be completed. The specified port is unknown". I
am using the following command:
rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /b "Laserjet4" /x /n "Laserjet4"
/if /f %windir%\inf\ntprint.inf /r "http://ip address of print
server:631/printers/hp laserjet 4/.printers" /m "HP LaserJet 4"

I have succeeded in adding the printer by creating a local TCP/IP port
and local print queue but this is not our preferred method.

What we are wondering is, what happened? Why did this work until just
a few months ago? We have (mostly) ruled out patches and sp2; we have
a computer with only sp1 and no patches that is experiencing the same
behavior. We would like to get this working again but are not sure
what to try next. Firmware is all up-to-date, the printer works fine
when connected to locally...

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Liz

 

[Guest]

Hi,
Try turning off your firewalls. I've found that when adding new hardward
the firewalls keep you from installing them on other workstations. Disable
all then install the printers, etc, then with the connection open to the new
printers, etc. start your firewalls again. Every time I have a problem
connectioning with one of my network pc's it seems to ususally be the
firewalls.

Hope this helps, Good luck.

 

[lizrdb]

Unfortuntely, it doesn't... we have turned off ZoneAlarm on the test
laptop and verified that the Windows Firewall is off as well. On the
PCs in the remote office, they have taken the same steps with the same
results. Any other ideas?

Thanks for the response!