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[I_want_an_Omega]

Hi,

I've just finished now had a good old tidy up of my home network and managed to get rid of a lot of cabling by installing trunking & installing a bigger Ethernet hub (Netgear FS108) to give me some more ports for the TV, Vodafone box etc in addition to the ports on the router.

Everything is working as it should - but getting the printing going is doing my head in.

I have two HP printers which have in-built Ethernet ports, to date I've only used their USB ports for "local" printing, but now want to be able to print from anywhere using any of the machines on the network.

I'm getting strange results - a little knowledge is very defo a big danger  . Basically somes it works, other times not.

In a nutshell, should the printers be set for auto IP or manual. If manual, what should the address be set to?

I want to be able to print in a reliable manner after a re-boot of a PC or the router.

All machines are using Windows, either XP or W7.

Am more than happy to start from scratch if someone has a proven way.

Thanks - Rob

[zirk]

Easiest way I found for small Networks is the hook the printer on one of the PC's and then click Share this Device, other PC should then see it over the Network.

[I_want_an_Omega]

Easiest way I found for small Networks is the hook the printer on one of the PC's and then click Share this Device, other PC should then see it over the Network.

Fair comment & thanks, but I don't want to do that for a number of reasons. The printers have their own LAN connections inbuilt and I wouldn't have to leave a PC switched on all the time just in case someone wants to print.

It is "sort of" working now - just isn't reliable & I'm sure it's something silly ..........

[zirk]

Easiest way I found for small Networks is the hook the printer on one of the PC's and then click Share this Device, other PC should then see it over the Network.

Fair comment & thanks, but I don't want to do that for a number of reasons. The printers have their own LAN connections inbuilt and I wouldn't have to leave a PC switched on all the time just in case someone wants to print.

It is "sort of" working now - just isn't reliable & I'm sure it's something silly ..........

 

Just a guess, but nothing to do with Printers going in to Sleep Mode and not being woke up over the Network?

[I_want_an_Omega]

Easiest way I found for small Networks is the hook the printer on one of the PC's and then click Share this Device, other PC should then see it over the Network.

Fair comment & thanks, but I don't want to do that for a number of reasons. The printers have their own LAN connections inbuilt and I wouldn't have to leave a PC switched on all the time just in case someone wants to print.

It is "sort of" working now - just isn't reliable & I'm sure it's something silly ..........

 

Just a guess, but nothing to do with Printers going in to Sleep Mode and not being woke up over the Network?

Good idea, but sometimes they do wake up and work - others not 

[TheBoy]

Give the printers a static IP. Suspect you have a shitty router to match your shitty switch, so ensure the printer's IPs are in the same subnet range as everything else, AND *NOT* in the DHCP range, the router IP, the broadcast or the network address (generally means avoiding .0, .1, .254, .255, and anything in the DHCP range).

[cem_devecioglu]

better dont use dhcp

[Rods2]

I have an Epson colour laser which is connected to my home network and I basically did what TB has suggested. If you use DHCP you will find each time it loses power it will be assigned a new IP address and the PCs won't be able to see it.

[I_want_an_Omega]

Thanks for the feedback - but of course now have some clarification questions ...

I'm getting the exact same symptom that Rods describes - although by deleting and starting again in Windows can now "see" each printer and send stuff to them successfully.

The addresses that have been allocated are 192.168.0.8 & 192.168.0.10, so what suggestions as to the new addresses to set once I make them static. I understand the point about the DHCP range but just don't know what that is.

Re the router. I have a choice of two - I'm using a Netgear DG834 at the moment, but have a BT Home Hub 2 somewhere if that would help.

What's the problem with the Netgear hub?

Thanks

[TheBoy]

I would imagine 192.168.0.245 and 192.168.0.246 are suitable for the printers, but log on to the router to check its outside of the DHCP range

[I_want_an_Omega]

I would imagine 192.168.0.245 and 192.168.0.246 are suitable for the printers, but log on to the router to check its outside of the DHCP range

Thanks - much appreciated. Would you stick with the 834 or use the BT home hub 2?

[TheBoy]

I would imagine 192.168.0.245 and 192.168.0.246 are suitable for the printers, but log on to the router to check its outside of the DHCP range

Thanks - much appreciated. Would you stick with the 834 or use the BT home hub 2?

For very, very basic use, both are adequate.

[dbug]

As stated give both printers a static IP addy - those suggested by TB will be OK - and make sure subnet masks set to 255.255.255.0

You also need to have set up correct drivers for the networked printers on all pcs etc.

Mix of Win7 and XP on different computers shouldn't matter as long as correct drivers installed 

[dbug]

Just a thought - I assume you've removed/uninstalled the printers from your pcs before installing them as network printers.  If not uninstall them then reinstall as network printers

[I_want_an_Omega]

Thanks for the ideas - much appreciated.

At the moment I'm still with the DHCP setup but will have a play in the coming days noting comments about the suggested addresses and subnet mask.