What's the trick to make Ethernet work on an HP 2100TN printer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Misha
  • Start date Start date
A HP printer may use an embedded or externally attached JetDirect "Print
Server".
Click to expand...

I had never heard of JetDirect until yesterday; so I'm still a novice.
I "think" this printer has the server attached where the ethernet cord
plugs into the side.
Telnet and HTTP can be used to configure the HP JetDirect.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I didn't "configure" JetDirect, so, I must be using whatever
defaults my friend had previously set.

I am a bit worried that the printer for both my friend and for me
was at a seemingly static IP address of 192.168.1.116.

Yet ...

I have DHCP configured ... so I'm shocked that DHCP just happened to
give the printer the *same* IP address it had at my friend's house.

So, I'm a bit worried that the IP address configuration is not obvious
to me. But if it works as it is, I'm ok with that. I hope.
 
Use of the HP Install Network Printer Wizard (INPW) software can help
automate the process on Windows, including the setup of the JetDirect
because it communicates with the JetDirect based upon the MAC address
and all HP JetDirects use a standard MAC address preamble.
Click to expand...

I must admit, I was just shooting blindly, but, looking back, I never
did "configure" the printer.

All I did, in effect, was clumsily click on the operating system GUIs
for configuring a networked printer.

Reflecting back, this is what I did:

1. I plugged the printer ethernet port into the router; nothing happened.

2. Dumbfounded, I clicked around in Windows XP like a foraging ant
searching for crumbs, and, at one point, the wizards favored me, and the
printer showed up. http://i41.tinypic.com/vi39lt.jpg

3. I then did the same for Windows 7, and again, the wizards eventually
favored me for having clicked enough buttons.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2hoba78.jpg

4. I did the same for Linux, and yet again, the wizards allowed me to
print. http://i40.tinypic.com/2r4ika8.jpg

Point is, I never did 'configure' anything as I took all the defaults.

I would never have known (especially on Linux) what to put in the fields
anyway.
 
Misha said:
OK. I'll install the one called:
4. hp LaserJet 2100 PCL 6 point and print bundles


It seems (from the printouts my friend provided with the machine) that
the HP LaserJet 2100TN printer had an IP address at my friend's house
of 192.168.1.116.

Interestingly, my router is at 192.168.1.1, and, when I printed a test
page, it showed the printer *still* has that IP address, but this time,
on my network.

Just to see what happens, I pointed my WinXP browser to that URL:
http://192.168.1.116 (on port 80)

And, well, it found *something* ...
http://i42.tinypic.com/2ilbm13.gif
Click to expand...

so have you discovered how to make the print darker?
 
so have you discovered how to make the print darker?
Click to expand...

Nope.

All I know, at the moment, is how to make the thing print. :)

I never explicitly downloaded any drivers as I let the operating system
figure all that out. I never changed anything from the default yet.

I'm not even sure WHERE to go about looking to make the print darker,
since the HP LaserJet 2100TN has only two buttons, and no display.

I do have the user manual, so, I'll comb through that.
http://tinyurl.com/qdfvjks
 
Misha said:
I had never heard of JetDirect until yesterday; so I'm still a novice.
I "think" this printer has the server attached where the ethernet cord
plugs into the side.


Hmmm... I didn't "configure" JetDirect, so, I must be using whatever
defaults my friend had previously set.

I am a bit worried that the printer for both my friend and for me
was at a seemingly static IP address of 192.168.1.116.

Yet ...

I have DHCP configured ... so I'm shocked that DHCP just happened to
give the printer the *same* IP address it had at my friend's house.

So, I'm a bit worried that the IP address configuration is not obvious
to me. But if it works as it is, I'm ok with that. I hope.
Click to expand...

The printer is configured for that address, so it doesn't use DHCP to get one.
 
I always shoot for PCL v6 and if I have a problem, I'll downgrade to PCL
v5
Click to expand...

It seems Linux defaults to PostScript, and Windows defaulted (with my
selection choice of the available drivers) to PCL v6.

So far, it's working.

Of course, I still have no idea how to make the print darker; but it
appears to be dark enough for now.
 
telnet 192.168.1.3 9100

That will open up a Telnet bsession with no feedback.
Click to expand...

You're not kidding there's no feedback!
I had to reboot the computer to kill the session!
 
That would be under "Administration"
Click to expand...

I see now that there is that one page, under Administration->Configuration
where you *can* actually change things.
http://i43.tinypic.com/2gxfeh2.png

Which of those settings would be suggested to change though to make
the print be darker or the network connection better?

a. Protocol stacks?
b. TCP/IP settings?
c. IPX settings?
d. Snmp settings?
e. Internet printing? (whatever that is)
 
The printer is configured for that address, so it doesn't use DHCP to
get one.
Click to expand...

I guess not using DHCP is OK with me (as long as it works).

The funny thing is that the printer configuration pages all say that the
printer *is* using DHCP:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2gxfeh2.png

But, it can't be using DHCP since it's always 192.168.1.116, which
wouldn't happen if it *was* using DHCP.

So, I'm confused ...
 
telnet 192.168.1.16

Hit the "/" key.

If it shows "DHCP Config : Disabled"
It is a static address.
Click to expand...

The funny thing is that the printer *appears* to have a static IP address
of 192.168.1.116; yet, DHCP is clearly enabled as shown in the web browser
pointing to http://192.168.1.116:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2gxfeh2.png

Your nice telnet suggestion above also confirms DHCP is enabled:
$ telnet 192.168.1.116
Trying 192.168.1.116...
Connected to 192.168.1.116.
Escape character is '^]'.

HP JetDirect

Please type "?" for HELP, or "/" for current settings
/
Click to expand...

===JetDirect Telnet Configuration===
Firmware Rev. : G.07.20
MAC Address : 00:10:83:a0:bb:cd
Config By : DHCP
IP Address : 192.168.1.116
Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway : 192.168.1.1
Syslog Server : Not Specified
Idle Timeout : 90 Seconds
Set Cmnty Name : Not Specified
Host Name : NBIU830AC
DHCP Config : Enabled
Passwd : Disabled
IPX/SPX : Disabled
DLC/LLC : Enabled
Ethertalk : Enabled
Banner page : Enabled
So, I'm confused why, if DHCP is operating, why the printer is always at
the IP address 192.168.1.116, even when it was at my friend's house.
 
Printer Driver are on the HP Printer Software just install it.......
Click to expand...

Actually, while I downloaded the printer drivers from the HP web site,
what is missing is how to set up the printer on the network.

For that, I used the respective operating system wizards (WinXP, Win7,
and Linux).

Interestingly, each of these wizards obtained the HP drivers on their
own, so, in the end, I never used the HP drivers that I had downloaded.

I have no idea what the *practical* difference is between the drivers
anyway (e.g., PCL5 vs PCL6 vs PS); but, all I know is that the printer
appears to now be networked to all the devices except the Android
cellphone.
 
Yes, it can keep the same IP even if the end of the IP Lease whas been
reached.
Click to expand...

What's interesting is that it kept the same IP address from one house to
another, under different networks (both using 191.168.1.1 as the gateway).

Thanks David for your advice. I appreciate all your help!
 
I guess not using DHCP is OK with me (as long as it works).

The funny thing is that the printer configuration pages all say that the
printer *is* using DHCP:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2gxfeh2.png

But, it can't be using DHCP since it's always 192.168.1.116, which
wouldn't happen if it *was* using DHCP.
Click to expand...

Sure it would. It will use the same address as before unless there is a
reason not to (eg that address is in use by something else).
 
Misha said:
Actually, while I downloaded the printer drivers from the HP web site,
what is missing is how to set up the printer on the network.

For that, I used the respective operating system wizards (WinXP, Win7,
and Linux).

Interestingly, each of these wizards obtained the HP drivers on their
own, so, in the end, I never used the HP drivers that I had downloaded.

I have no idea what the *practical* difference is between the drivers
anyway (e.g., PCL5 vs PCL6 vs PS); but, all I know is that the printer
appears to now be networked to all the devices except the Android
cellphone.
Click to expand...
Hi,
Practical wisdom is if all works the way you are satisfied. Leave it be.
Reason to update driver or firmware is if want particular feature or
improvement is needed according to the release note. So many folks just
update for the sake of update's and getting into trouble. PCLs for PC,
PS is for Mac(Apple).

If you are curious, reboot the router and see if IP changes. Or you can
assign fixed IP from router GUI or from printer set up. My WiFi printer
and NAS are given fixed IP for the convenience.

Under one submask you can have a range of IP(0 to 256) but if you don't
have that many devices, limit it to like 0 to 20. No need to wasting
time scanning all those unused IP addresses. My router has IP range of
gateway one plus 15 which is enough for our home network.
 
It seems Linux defaults to PostScript, and Windows defaulted (with my
selection choice of the available drivers) to PCL v6.

So far, it's working.

Of course, I still have no idea how to make the print darker; but it
appears to be dark enough for now.
Click to expand...

Your might change the font type; or font size. For me, I've found
the screen fonts appear to change to darker at 13 pt sometimes.
And it translates to a darker printing.

I just changed the font type on Notepad++ from Courier to Verdana
keeping the font size at 12 pt. The screen letters became darker
& the printout also got darker than when the font type was Courier.

Could be the app or whatever but getting a darker print &/or display
means playing the screen fonts prior to checking/shaking the toner.
 
Ok but, please don't use Google Groups !
Click to expand...

Heh heh. I've NEVER used Google Groups. I just used the Deja-News-like
search engine to clarify that the suggested newsgroup existed (because
when I updated my group list in my nntp client, that group still had
not shown up).

Once I confirmed that the group actually existed, I realized there
was a problem with my nntp client group list.

So, I manually deleted my nntp client & newsgroup files, and re-installed
the nntp client and lo and behold, when I refreshed the group list,
that suggested android group FINALLY showed up.

I'm not sure WHY it didn't show up before. Maybe it's a new group?
But, it seems active - which is all that matters.

Thanks for that suggestion, and all your other explanations!
 
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