Adding a Network Printer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shawn Johnson
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Shawn Johnson

Please forgive my ignorance...

I work for a small company in a position that has nothing to do with IT.
Unfortunately, being the most knowledgeable in the company, I have been
bagged with IT/Network Administration.

Normally, I can figure out things on my own relatively quickly, but this
process seems a bit complex, and I have no idea where to start.

We are purchasing a HP Laserjet 2300N. It has the JetDirect interface, so I
know I can connect it to a network port with no issue (and not needing a
separate print server). The question is, how do I go about adding it to the
network?

If I look at my other printers (which an outside company set up initially) I
see IP addresses assigned. Now, I figure these have to be static correct?
Question is, how do I go about assigning an IP address, and set up the
printer appropriately?

I have already spent a little time looking at the Printers in the Control
Panel, so I can walk through the wizard to set it up (selecting TCP/IP..).
Again, the question is really setting the IP address and such. Then again
don't you have to reserve the IP in the DHCP (I don't see any reserved now,
but I would assume they'd have to be..)

Any weblinks or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
You can either manually assign it an IP address using the buttons on the
printer (see the manual for the Jetdirect) or reserve an IP in the DHCP
scope for the Jetdirect card's MAC address [check for a sticker on the
Jetdirect card], and let the Jetdirect "dynamically" pick up that IP. It's
up to you to pick which IP you want (most network admins have already
planned this ahead of time, or they have a spreadsheet somewhere where they
keep track of static assignments.) Obviously make sure it doesn't conflict
with anything else and that it falls in the same subnet as your other
machines. And make sure that the printer's IP doesn't change on you,
otherwise you will have trouble printing ;)

You don't have to reserve an IP in DHCP if you are picking one that falls
outside of what your DHCP scope is assigning. Depends if you have a block
of IPs in your subnet that has already been set aside and that is not being
given out via DHCP.

Once the printer is on the network and you are able to ping its IP, you just
want to set up a shared printer on your Windows print server. On the
server, go to Add Printer and add a *local* printer. (Yes its considered
local, not network.) Create a TCP/IP port that points to the IP address and
choose or install the appropriate driver. The CD that comes with the
printer might actually simplify the process. Set the printer as "Shared"
and other people should be able to connect to it. (\\servername\sharename,
where servername is your print server and sharename is the name you typed
for the shared printer.) Go into the Properties for the printer icon and
make sure that the settings for the type of trays installed and optional
add-ons etc are correct.

If you don't have a central server that manages print queues (aka "shared
printers"), you can follow the above procedure on each workstation but you
lose the ability to centrally manage the spool and the drivers. Up to you.
 
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