printers losing network connection

  • Thread starter Thread starter LouisB
  • Start date Start date
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LouisB

Apologies if this is the wrong group but I wonder if anyone can help with
this issue.

I work in a school with a fairly bog standard ethernet LAN on which our HP
printers are attached directly. The network manager has set it up, so I
understand, so that the printers obtain their IP addresses at start up from
the DHCP server. I think he has started doing this recently because until
recently we had no problems.

Now, however, printers regularly appear to lose their network connectivity.
One technician suggested we move to using fixed IP addresses for the
printers to resolve the problem.

I have a good basic knowledge of networking etc gleaned from a career in IT
management but I'm trying to figure out who is snowing me here.

Is this a known network issue with HP printers, ethernet LANs and
predominently Windows server technology (I'm assuming we're using the DHCP
services in Windows 2003 server, here)?

If anyone can shed any light on this issue, especially if they have had
similar issues and resolved them then I would be grateful for the advice.

LouisB
 
I work in a school with a fairly bog standard ethernet LAN on
which our HP printers are attached directly. The network manager
has set it up, so I understand, so that the printers obtain their
IP addresses at start up from the DHCP server. I think he has
started doing this recently because until recently we had no
problems.

Now, however, printers regularly appear to lose their network
connectivity. One technician suggested we move to using fixed IP
addresses for the printers to resolve the problem.

I have a good basic knowledge of networking etc gleaned from a
career in IT management but I'm trying to figure out who is
snowing me here.

Is this a known network issue with HP printers, ethernet LANs and
predominently Windows server technology (I'm assuming we're using
the DHCP services in Windows 2003 server, here)?

If anyone can shed any light on this issue, especially if they
have had similar issues and resolved them then I would be grateful
for the advice.
Click to expand...

Obtaining an IP address via DHCP means that the IP address obtained is
"leased" and will expire after a period of time determined by the DHCP
server. If the device is active, it should renew its lease when the
lease time is half expired. If the lease time is short (1 day) and the
printer stands idle for longer than that (over weekend), the lease may
expire and the printer will lose its IP address. It is also possible
that waking up the printer will cause it to obtain a different IP
address which may not be found by clients unless a dynamic DNS is in
place, the printer supports it, and clients use it to find the printer.

It is generally a good idea to use a fixed IP address for server
devices, like printers, that need to be found on the network by other
clients. Most subnets that I have seen reserve the lower-addresses for
fixed-IP devices and the higher addresses are assigned to DHCP.

This may not be the problem that you are experiencing, but it is a good
first step toward solving the problem.

HTH,
John
 
We have a number of HP printers (from HP LaserJet 4n to HP LaserJet 4200)
that get addresses via Windows 2003 DHCP and we do not have this kind of a
problem. Each printer has a reservation in DHCP to keep it on the same
address.

I'd be looking at DHCP logs to see if there's a reason they're not getting
renewed on the same address, and troubleshooting starting at the printer to
find how much connectivity they're "losing" - is it dropping entirely off
the network, or trying to get an address and failing, or is there some other
problem involved?
 
problem. Each printer has a reservation in DHCP to keep it on the same
address.
Click to expand...

By reserving the address in the DHCP, is that the same as giving the printer
a static address, in effect?

TIA

LouisB
 
Yes, if you add the words "so long as the DHCP server remains available".
We give our PCs and printers fairly long lease times (10 days) and regularly
back up the DHCP server data in the event of a problem.
 
What is the advantage of using DHCP to give addresses to your printers
over just giving your printers a static IP address and excluding those
addresses from the DHCP scope?




*Yes, if you add the words "so long as the DHCP server remains
available".
We give our PCs and printers fairly long lease times (10 days) and
regularly
back up the DHCP server data in the event of a problem.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* In fond memory ... Alex, you shall be sorely missed
* http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm



message
By reserving the address in the DHCP, is that the same as giving the
printer a static address, in effect?

TIA

LouisB
*
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Well, there are several. Here's two:

If you do need to change a printer's IP address you change it in DHCP then
have the user switch it off and on. Otherwise you have to visit or remotely
log onto the printer and make the change there too.

You also avoid the potential problem of IP-address mismatches, where DHCP
says one thing but the printer says another. Not conducive to a
smoothly-running network. :-)


--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* In fond memory ... Alex, you shall be sorely missed
* http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm



DBD738 said:
What is the advantage of using DHCP to give addresses to your printers
over just giving your printers a static IP address and excluding those
addresses from the DHCP scope?




*Yes, if you add the words "so long as the DHCP server remains
available".
We give our PCs and printers fairly long lease times (10 days) and
regularly
back up the DHCP server data in the event of a problem.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* In fond memory ... Alex, you shall be sorely missed
* http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm



message
By reserving the address in the DHCP, is that the same as giving the
printer a static address, in effect?

TIA

LouisB
*
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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