HP Jetdirect 250m Print Server series User Manual

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User's Guide

for HP Jetdirect 200m print server and HP Jetdirect 250m print server

Contents:

Basics of networking and network printing

General information about the print servers

Installation of the print servers.

4. Configuration and management -- please refer to the

HP Jetdirect Administrator's Guide. In that

document, click on one of these topics in the contents panel on the left:

❍ TCP/IP Configuration ❍ Using the Embedded Web Server ❍ Configuring for LPD printing ❍ FTP printing ❍ Security features

5. Troubleshooting the print servers

Technical support for the print servers

Specifications and regulatory information for the print servers

Limited warranty for the print servers

Some useful tools and techniques

❍ Tools

■ Installer

■ Embedded web server

❍ Techniques

■ Printing a configuration page

■ Setting a new IP address

■ Performing a cold reset (reset to factory defaults)

Networking Basics

Please click on a title to view a document.

The Network Basics Tutorial

A brief overview of:

● Networks

● Network Printing

● Installing a Network Printer

Tips on Getting Started

Answers to common questions:

● Which CD should I use?

● Where do I find the printer driver?

● When do I stop?

The

Network Basics

Tutorial

This tutorial tells you about:

● Networks

● Network Printing

● Installing a Network Printer

Click the button to continue.

Section 1:

Networks

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NETWORKS

What you want . . .

. . . is for all your computers to be able to:

● Communicate -- send

and receive e-mail, and participate in conferences

● Share information --

transfer files among systems, and get information from central databases

● Share resources -- use

shared printers, scanners, and servers

NETWORKS

The problem is . . .

. . . standalone computers have no way to talk to each other, so attempts at communication fail.

NETWORKS

The solution: a local area network

A local area network (or LAN) provides connections that tie the computers together and allow them to communicate. (The most common type of local area network may also be referred to as an Ethernet LAN or an Ethernet.)

Local area networks can be either wired (as shown here) or wireless. We will look at the different types in the next few pages.

NETWORKS

Wired LANs

As the name implies, a wired LAN connects computers (and other network devices) physically, using wires. A typical LAN uses twisted-pair wiring (similar to telephone wiring) to connect each computer to a central hub. The hub transmits network communications between computers.

Wired LANs offer high-speed communication, as well as reasonable security and reliability. In general, however, they are not as flexible as wireless LANs.

Most wired LANs conform to the IEEE 802.3 standard. The most common wiring schemes use twisted-pair wiring or thin coaxial wiring.

Click on these links for

more details on LAN wiring:

● Detail: twisted-pair

wiring

● Detail: thin coaxial

wiring

● Detail: computer

connections

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Wiring: twisted-pair

The most common wiring used for LANs is twisted-pair wiring, similar to the wiring used for telephones. This wiring connects the computers or other network devices to a central hub. The use of telephone-type wiring makes it easy for the persons who administer your telephone wiring to administer the network wiring as well.

RJ-45 connectors are used to connect the twisted-pair wiring to the computer and to the hub. The wire for a network can be graded in a number of categories; Category 5 wiring is the most popular grade. Category 5 wiring has superior electrical characteristics, and we strongly recommend it for all twisted-pair networking applications. The wire grade is usually marked on the cable jacket.

The equipment for a twisted-pair LAN commonly operates at a data rate of either 10 Mbps (megabits per second) or 100 Mbps. Category 5 wiring is required for 100-Mbps operation. A 10-Mbps LAN can run on either Category 3 or Category 5 wiring (though we strongly recommend Category 5). At either data rate, cables may extend up to 100 meters (328 feet) from the hub to the computer.

A twisted-pair network running at 10 Mbps is called a type 10Base-T network. A twistedpair network running at 100 Mbps is called a type 100Base-T network.

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Wiring: thin coax

An alternative to twisted-pair wiring is thin coaxial cabling, often called thin coax. This cabling is known as RG-58A or RG-58U cable, and has an impedance of 50 ohms. (It looks similar to the 75-ohm thin coaxial cable used in television installations, but the television cable will not work in a network.)

The connectors used with thin coax are BNC connectors. The cable is a continuous cable, up to 185 meters (606 feet) long, made up of shorter segments with BNC connectors at each end. It connects to computers and other devices along its length using BNC "T" connectors, and there is a 50-ohm terminator at each end of the cable. This cabling scheme does not use a hub.

A thin coaxial LAN operates at a data rate of 10 mbps (megabits per second), and is known as a type 10Base2 network.

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Computer connections

For twisted-pair LANs: A desktop computer connects to a twisted-pair LAN through a network interface card (NIC) that resides in a slot in the computer, or through a similar interface built in to the computer itself. The RJ-45 plug of the network cable plugs into an RJ-45 jack on the card or in the computer. A portable computer may have a built-in connection using an RJ45 jack, or it may use a PC card that inserts into a PC card slot in the computer. (Some PC cards take up two slots and have room for an RJ-45 jack that is integral with the card; others take up only a single slot but require a short cable that provides the RJ-45 jack.)

For thin coaxial LANs: A desktop computer typically connects to a thin coaxial LAN through a network interface card (NIC) ; built-in BNC connections are uncommon. Portable computers connecting to thin coaxial LANs use a PC card with a short cable that provides a BNC connection. In all cases, the LAN cable connects to the computer through a BNC "T" connector.

Hidden network cables and equipment: In many network

installations, the hubs are kept in equipment closets and the cables are hidden in the walls. In these installations, wall outlets with RJ45 jacks are the only visible components of the network wiring. For such a network, you use a short length of network cable to connect from the computer to the wall jack.

NETWORKS

Wireless LANs

In a wireless LAN, information travels through the air in radiofrequency signals instead of through wires. This makes wireless LANs very flexible, and setup and reconfiguration are very easy. Communication speeds on wireless LANs, however, tend to be slower than on wired LANs, and it generally takes more work to make a wireless LAN as secure as a wired LAN.

Most wireless LANs conform to one of the subsets of the IEEE

802.11 standard; the most common subset is currently

802.11b. Data rates for 802.11b LANs can be as high as 11 Mbps (megabits per second). Typically a wireless device in an 802.11b LAN can transmit signals across a distance of about 30 meters (100 feet) in a semi-open office (no walls) and still maintain a data rate of 11 Mbps. It is possible to extend the range to about 100 meters (300 feet), but at such a distance the data rate drops off to 1 Mbps.

802.11b wireless LANs operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. There are several channels (frequencies) that wireless LANs can use in this range. Government regulations prescribe which channels may be used in various parts of the world.

There are two basic wireless networking topologies -infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode; these are described in the detail pages (see below).

Click on these links for more details on wireless LAN topologies:

● Detail: infrastructure

mode

● Detail: ad hoc mode

● Detail: standalone

peripheral connections

● Detail: computer

connections

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Infrastructure mode

Terminology: Infrastructure mode is referred to as a "basic service set" (BSS). It's topology is sometimes called a "star topology", and it may also be called "enterprise mode" because it is the preferred topology for large networks. On a network of Apple Macintosh computers, it may be called an "Airport network".

Topology: In infrastructure mode, all signals travel through an access point. Like the hub in a wired LAN, the access point resends the incoming signals out to the computers and other devices on the network. (The access point performs additional functions when a wireless LAN is connected to a wired LAN.) Infrastructure mode is suitable for wireless LANs of all sizes.

In infrastructure mode the access point sets the channel for all device that communicate through it.

A wireless LAN can have multiple access points. This can expand the capacity of the network and extend its range, allowing users to roam with their portable computers and still stay connected to the network.

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Ad hoc mode

Terminology: Infrastructure mode is referred to as an "independent basic service set" (IBSS). It is sometimes called "peer-to-peer mode". On a network of Apple Macintosh computers, it may be called "computer-to-computer mode".

Topology: In ad hoc mode the wireless devices on a network communicate directly with each other, and access points are not used. Ad hoc mode is used for very small networks. Performance in an ad hoc network degrades as you add more devices to the network; typically, ad hoc networks connect no more than six devices.

In ad hoc mode you can select the channel. Make sure that all devices on the network are set to the same channel.

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Standalone peripherals

Not all wireless connections are network connections. Though the distinctions may often be somewhat blurry, some wireless technologies -- such as the Bluetooth technology that is becoming popular in mobile phones and handheld computers -are more about connecting a computing device to a peripheral, rather than connecting computers and other devices in a network.

For instance, when a handheld computer connects with a walkup wireless printer, or when a mobile phone connects with a vending machine, the interactions between them are typical of a standalone computer talking to a peripheral device. In essence, the wireless connection replaces the cable in a standard peripheral connection. Compared to network connections, such wireless peripheral connections work at short ranges and slow speeds.

(In this tutorial, we will concentrate on the networking that is typified by 802.3-type wired networks and 802.11b-type wireless networks.)

NETWORKS

DETAIL

Computer connections

Connections at the computer for wireless networking connections are simpler than wired ones just because there are no wires to connect.

Wireless connections are most common in portable computers. Increasingly, notebook computers come with built-in wireless networking. For notebook computers that don't have built-in networking, you can plug a wireless networking card into the computer's PC card (PCMCIA) slot. (Wireless networking is based on radio technology, and in many add-on cards the antenna protrudes slightly from the PC card slot.)

Desktop PCs can have wireless networking, too. A typical arrangement is for an adapter in a desktop PC to contain a PC card slot, into which you plug the same kind of wireless networking card that you would use in a notebook computer.

NETWORKS

Mixed LANs

Mixed LANs combine wired and wireless LANs, taking advantage of the strong points of each. For example, a mixed LAN can provide the flexible connections of wireless with the high overall throughput of a wired LAN. Such an arrangement makes it particularly easy for mobile workers to connect their notebook computers to the network.

You create a mixed LAN by plugging the network cable from a wired LAN into a port on a wireless access point. In addition to acting as a hub for the wireless portion of the network, the access point acts as a bridge to the wired portion. In a typical case, when a computer with a wireless LAN card comes within range of the access point, it connects through the access point to the LAN (both the wired and wireless portions) and to all the computers and other resources on the LAN.

NETWORKS

L is for Local

The "local" in "local area network" means that the network is in a single location. A LAN can be small enough to serve a home office or a small business, or it can be large enough to serve a school, a hospital, or a substantial business or public office. It can cover several buildings, as long as they can all be connected into a single network. Several types of LAN equipment are available to expand a LAN beyond the workgroup-sized unit typically served by a single hub.

Note that the definition of a local area network does not include broader networks such as the Internet or a corporate network with locations in many cities or countries. These broader networks are often called WANs, or wide area networks. It is possible for a LAN to connect to such a network through a gateway

-- a device that connects different types of networks. The gateway can be a separate piece of equipment, or it can include the LAN hub. (This latter type of gateway is becoming increasingly common for Internet connections, particularly for highspeed DSL connections.)

NETWORKS

Addresses

Each device on the network has a unique address. This allows you to communicate with a specific computer (or other device, such as a printer). That way, your email doesn't go to everybody, and your print job doesn't get printed simultaneously on all printers on the network.

There are several addressing schemes for networks. Of these, the most popular is that of the Internet Protocol (IP). In addition to being used on the Internet, IP addressing can also be used for standalone networks that don't connect to the Internet. The network addresses shown in the illustration are sample IP addresses.

Other network addressing schemes you may encounter include IPX (used with Novell NetWare networks), DLC, and AppleTalk. In this tutorial, we limit our discussion of network addressing to IP addressing, as it is the most popular.

The number of possible IP addresses is huge. So is the number of Internet users, and the possibility of conflicts is a real one. If you use IP addresses on your LAN and that LAN connects to the Internet, you must be careful to use addresses that have come from a reliable source, such as your Internet service provider (ISP).

NETWORKS

Wireless security

Wireless networks are inherently less secure than wired ones. In a wired environment an intruder needs to gain physical access to your network wiring to break into your network; in a wireless environment, he just needs to be in range of the radio waves that carry the network traffic. Since these waves penetrate building walls and easily carry for tens of meters, an intruder sitting in a car in your parking lot could monitor the traffic on the wireless LAN in your building.

To frustrate intruders, a number of standards have been developed to make security for a wireless network more-or-less equivalent to that of wired networks. These standards work in three areas:

Network name (SSID): A network name, or service set identifier (SSID) is an alphanumeric character string that provides basic access control on a wireless network. To transmit onto the network, the network name of a computer or other device must match the name configured into the access point.

Authentication: Authentication verifies the identity of a user or device before the user or device is allowed to transmit onto the network. There are several different schemes of authentication that you might encounter when installing an HP Jetdirect print server:

● Open system: No

authentication.

● Shared key: Each device

uses the same shared key (a shared password value) for network access.

● Server-based

authentication: A server on the network authenticates each client that requests a connection to the network. There are several protocols available, all based on the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). Briefly described, they are:

❍ LEAP

(Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol) -- a proprietary protocol from Cisco Systems that uses passwords for mutual authentication (that is, the client and the server authenticate each other).

❍ PEAP

(Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol) -- a mutual authentication protocol that uses digital certificates for server authentication and passwords for client authentication. For additional security, the authentication exchanges are encapsulated within TLS (Transport Level Security).

❍ EAP-MD5 (EAP

using Message Digest algorithm

5) -- a one-way authentication protocol that authenticates the client using a password protected by the MD5 algorithm.

❍ EAP-TLS (EAP

using Transport Level Security) -a mutual authentication protocol based on digital certificates.

❍ EAP-TTLS

(EAP using Tunneled Transport Level Security) -- a mutual authentication protocol that uses digital certificates for server authentication and passwords for client authentication. For additional security, the authentication exchanges are encapsulated within TLS (Transport Level Security).

Encryption: Encryption methods encode the traffic on the network, rendering it unintelligible to an intruder who is monitoring it. WEP (wired equivalency privacy) is an IEEE

802.11 encryption scheme that provides basic access control and data privacy on your wireless network. Under WEP, you supply encryption keys that are used to encrypt the data stream.

In addition, some of the authentication protocols, such as

LEAP and EAP-TLS, can manage encryption keys for the network administrator.

Wireless print server security: As you set up your

wireless print server, the wireless setup wizard will make it easy to match the print server's security settings to those of your network. The wizard's help pages provide considerable detail on the process.

Section 2:

Network Printing

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NETWORK PRINTING

Why use network printers?

Using network printers lets you meet your computer users' printing needs more efficiently. By sharing printers among several users, you reduce the number of printers you need. This approach

● saves money -- there's

less equipment to buy

● saves space -- users

don't need to make space for a printer

● saves maintenance --

fewer printers mean less bother

all with little inconvenience to users. (In fact, shared printers may be more convenient: nobody has to go without a printer or change to a different computer just to print; and sharing may save enough money to let you purchase printers with more functions or greater speed.)

NETWORK PRINTING

Why use a print server?

A print server provides your printer with connection to the network. You could get the same connection using a computer -your network server -- but it would cost more and be more complex. Using a print server saves you money and frees up your network server for other tasks, such as file storage.

You might want to use a network server for management of print jobs, a function that may be useful for larger networks. In such an application you will still probably want to use a print server, because its small size gives you location flexibility. Using a print server, you can easily place your printers near your users, while keeping the network server out of the way in a central computer area. (You will see this application in the notes on the client/server topology, a couple of pages later in this tutorial.)

NETWORK PRINTING

Hardware connections

Print servers can be internal or external devices. Which one you choose depends on your printer.

Internal print servers -- These are special-purpose cards or modules that plug into the built-in input/output slot in the back of some printers. The slot provides the data and power connections for the print server, and the network cable plugs into the network connector on the face of the print server.

Internal print servers come in a variety of configurations to match the style of your printer slot and the type of network connection you need.

External print servers -- External print servers are for printers that don't have a built-in slot. The print server is a small module that sits next to the printer (or mounts on the printer using a clip) and connects to the printer's USB or parallel port using a standard printer cable. A network cable plugs into the network connector on the print server, and a power cord connects to a wall outlet to provide the print server's power. (We haven't shown the power cord in the illustration, just to keep the drawing simpler.)

External print servers come in several different configurations to match the printer's data port (USB or parallel) and the type of network connection you need.

Wireless print servers -- Wireless print servers come in

both internal and external models. Their connections are similar to the those of wired print servers, except that there is no network cable connection. (An antenna in the print server makes the radio-frequency connection to the wireless network.) The connection to the printer, whether by plugging the print server into the printer's input/output slot or connecting a printer cable to the printer's USB or parallel port, is the same as with a wired print server.

NETWORK PRINTING

Peer-to-peer topology

There are two standard layouts for network printing using a print server. The first is the peerto-peer topology, in which a computer sends print jobs directly to the printer.

In peer-to-peer printing, each computer manages the print jobs that it generates. It checks to see whether the printer is ready to accept the print job, and sends the job if the printer is free. If the printer is not free, the computer stores the job and keeps checking the printer until it is ready to accept the job. If several computers send jobs to a printer at the same time, printing for some of the computers may slow down as they spend time checking the printer and waiting for it to be available.

Peer-to-peer printing works well on networks with few users. It is appropriate for small and medium offices, as well as large offices that do not have heavy printing requirements.

(Note: To clarify the use of similar terminology, please note the distinction between wireless peer-to-peer mode (usually known as "ad hoc mode") and HP Jetdirect peer-to-peer printing. Wireless peer-to-peer mode refers to a topology where wireless devices communicate directly without going through an access point, while HP Jetdirect peer-to-peer printing refers to a computer's direct print path to a printer that does not go through a network server. HP Jetdirect peer-to-peer printing can be used on both

infrastructure and ad hoc (peerto-peer) wireless topologies.)

NETWORK PRINTING

Client/server topology

The second standard layout for network printing is the client/server topology. In this topology, a computer sends its print jobs to a network server, and the server sends the print jobs to the printer.

In client/server printing, the network server manages the print jobs from several computers (the clients). As soon as a client computer has sent a print job to the server, it is finished with that print job. The server keeps track of all print jobs from there on -figuring out the print order for the various jobs that have been submitted to it, checking the printer's availability, and sending the next job to the printer when it is free.

Client/server printing works well on networks with heavy printing traffic. It is typically used in large offices that have extensive networking facilities.

Choosing a topology -- If you don't know whether to use a peerto-peer or a client/server topology, you may want to start with peer-to-peer printing. It generally takes a substantial amount of printing traffic, or large print jobs, to slow down printing significantly. If your print jobs start to take noticeably longer to complete, you may want to try using multiple printers, dividing your network into subnetworks, or switching your office to client/server printing (in that order).

NETWORK PRINTING

Printer drivers

The printer driver is the last major component to consider in network printing. This driver is system software that converts a document in your computer to a form that makes sense for the printer.

When you print from an application on your computer, it is the printer driver that converts the layout on your screen to the ones and zeros that the printer takes as input. When the printer receives this information, it converts the ones and zeros into a correctly printed page.

The installer program for network printing needs to have the printer driver to complete the installation. It usually turns out that the trickiest thing about the installation is knowing where to find the driver. You may be able to find the driver on the CD that came with your printer, on the Web, or on your operating system CD. If you previously had the same printer connected directly to your computer, the right driver may already be on your system. (We will provide more information on finding and using printer drivers in the next section, "Installing a Network Printer".)

Section 3:

Installing a Network Printer

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INSTALLING A NETWORK PRINTER

Setting up the hardware

The first stage of installing a network printer is setting up the hardware. There are two steps to this: setting up the printer hardware and connecting the print server.

Set up the printer hardware -- Remove any shipping materials. Install the paper trays and ink or toner cartridges (as appropriate). Add paper. Plug in the power cord and switch on the power. Print a test page. Do not connect the printer to your computer. (For detailed instructions, check your printer manual or setup poster.)

Connect the print server -- There are a couple of different cases to consider:

● If you use an external

print server: Switch off the printer's power. Connect the printer cable (USB or parallel, as appropriate) between the printer and the print server. Connect the network cable to the print server. Switch on the printer's power. Plug in the print server's power cord. Push the Test button on the print server to print a configuration page on the printer; this tests the connection between the print server and the printer. (For detailed instructions, check your print server manual or setup poster.)

Note: For a wireless print server the

connection sequence is the same, except that there is no network cable to connect.

● If you use an internal

print server: Note that many printers come with the print server module already installed in the printer. If your print server module is not already installed: Unplug the printer's power cord. Plug the print server into its slot in the printer. Connect the network cable to the network connector on the print server. Plug in the printer's power cord. (For detailed instructions, check your print server manual or setup poster.)

Note: For a wireless print server the

connection sequence is the same, except that there is no network cable to connect.

Note: If your network wiring is hidden -- In many network

installations, the network components (hubs, switches, &c) are stored in a wiring closet and the network wiring is hidden in the walls. The only sign of a network that you see in such an installation is a wall outlet that has one or two network connectors. In this case, make your network connection by connecting a network cable between the print server and the wall outlet. (If you have any questions about such an installation, check with your network administrator.)

Note that the illustration shows only the data connections (network cables and printer

cable); we have omitted power cords from the illustration to keep the drawings simple.

INSTALLING A NETWORK PRINTER

Running the Install Network Printer Wizard ("the installer")

But first, are you installing a wireless print server?

If you are installing a wireless print server, you will need to run the HP Jetdirect Wireless Setup Wizard before running the HP Install Network Printer Wizard. Running the Wireless Setup Wizard is an option that appears when you insert the HP Jetdirect CD into your Windows computer.

The Wireless Setup Wizard guides you through:

● setting your computer to connect to the print

server in wireless ad hoc (peer-to-peer) mode

● discovering your wireless printer on the

network

● setting a few wireless parameters

(communication mode, authentication, and encryption) on the print server

Then you set your computer back to its normal connection to your network, and continue with installing the printer on your computer, using the Install Network Printer Wizard.

The Install Network Printer Wizard

The next (and last) stage of installing a network printer is using the network printing software to install the printer on your computer.

● If you're setting up peer-to-peer

printing, you need to run the software and

install the network printer on each computer that will print to the target printer.

● If you're setting up client/server

printing, you need to run the software and

install the network printer on the network server and set it up for printer sharing. Then each client computer must install the printer driver and connect to the shared printer on the network server. An easy way to do this is to use the Microsoft Windows Point and Print function. (See your operating system documentation for details on Point and Print.)

The installer program performs several major functions:

● detects available printers on the network

● helps set up an address for the printer you

choose

● installs the printer driver

● optionally sets up printer sharing (only

available if running on a Windows NT/2000 network server)

Operation

Note: The next few paragraphs describe the operation of the installer software that resides on the HP Jetdirect CD. If you are using the network printer installer that resides on the printer's CD, the operation may be slightly different from what we describe here. In particular, some printer CDs do not offer you the option of "Autoconfigure network settings for me". In such a case, the installation will proceed as though you chose the "Let me configure my own network settings" option described below. (If you are trying to decide whether to use the Jetdirect CD or the printer CD, the discussion of

Which CD do I use? may be helpful.)

To run the installer program, insert the CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive. On most systems the CD browser application will start automatically. If it doesn't start automatically on your system, double-click on SETUP.EXE in the root directory of the CD to start it. Once the browser has initialized, it will give you a choice of actions -- choose Install by clicking on the top button.

When the installer starts, it lets you choose how it operates:

● Auto-configure network settings for me.

This is the easy option -- the installer automatically assigns network settings, such as IP addresses. This is probably the right option to choose, unless you are a network administrator and need to assign specific network settings.

● Let me configure my own network

settings. This is the option for advanced users. It gives you control over the IP or NetWare parameters and other network settings that are assigned to the network printer. If you are a network administrator, this may be the right choice for you.

Once you have made this choice, the installer proceeds with its tasks, asking you for the information it needs at each point. If you chose "Auto-configure . . ." it will ask only a few questions; if you chose "Let me configure . . ." it will ask some detailed questions about the setup of network addressing.

Printer drivers

At some point late in the installation, the installer needs to have the printer driver to complete the installation. So at that point the installer may ask you where to find the driver. Knowing where to find the driver is usually the trickiest part of the installation.

Technically speaking, what you need is a driver that installs using a .INF information file (rather than installing by running a .EXE file) There are several alternatives for finding this driver and its .INF file:

● In many cases this is the same driver that is

used for a direct (non-networked) printer connection, and you can probably find the driver on the CD that came with the printer. (In fact, some printers come with the network installer program on the printer CD. If your printer is one of these, the simplest way to install your network printer is to run the installer from the printer CD instead of from the HP Jetdirect CD, since the installer knows where to find the driver on the printer CD. For a list of these printers, click on this button:

● If you want to make sure of having the latest

driver for your printer, you can download it from the Web. If your printer is an HP printer and you are running the installer in the "Autoconfigure network settings for me" mode, you can select the option to download a driver automatically from the Internet. The installer will search the HP support site for a driver for your printer and, if it finds one, will automatically download it and install it for you. If you don't select the option to download a driver automatically from the Internet, you can download one manually before you run the installer. The HP support site at

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/software.html

has current drivers for most HP printers.

● You may be able to find the driver on your

operating system disc. If the operating system is more recent than the printer, it probably includes a driver for that printer.

● If you previously had a direct connection from

your computer to the same printer, or a network connection to another printer of the same model, the network printer installer may be able to use the driver that is already on your computer.

The installer software takes the driver location you specify, finds the driver, and installs it in your system.

Once the installer has finished, you are ready for network printing from your computer.

The End

When installing the network printing software, some users are unsure when the installation is complete. When the network printer is installed on your computer and you can print to it, the installation is complete.

Confusion sometimes arises in the situation when you have two CDs -- a printer CD and the HP Jetdirect CD -and you have just finished the installation from the printer CD. It is common to wonder whether you should run the installer on the Jetdirect CD as well. You don't need to. Once your network printer prints successfully, you're done with the installation on that computer. (Of course, if you are installing the network

printer software for peer-to-peer printing from several computers, you will need to run the installer from each computer.)

INSTALLING A NETWORK PRINTER

DETAIL

Printers that include the network installer

Many newer HP printers (January 2000 or later), including multifunction peripherals (MFPs) and All-in-One devices, include network installation software on the printer CD. If your printer is in the list below, use the printer CD for installation.

HP LaserJet 1200 HP LaserJet 1220 HP LaserJet 2200 HP LaserJet 3300 series HP LaserJet 4100 series HP LaserJet 9000 HP LaserJet 9000MFP HP Business Inkjet 2280 HP Color Inkjet cp1160 HP Deskjet 5550 HP Officejet D series

If your printer is not identified above, or you cannot locate your printer’s CD, you should:

● First, locate your printer's driver. (The summary on the preceding page should help you.)

● Then, run the installer from the HP Jetdirect CD.

Note that if you use the HP Jetdirect CD for MFP or All-in-One devices, some features other than printing (such as scanning and faxing) may not be accessible. Use the printer CD to get all features.

Note: An HP Web Jetadmin CD-ROM may also be included with selected HP JetDirect products. HP Web Jetadmin is a feature-rich printer management tool. However, it is not required for network printer installation.

End of Network Basics tutorial

Tips on Getting Started

Background

Installing a network printer is quite straightforward:

● First, you set up your hardware. This involves setting up your printer, and then setting up a print

server to connect the printer to your network.

● Then, you run the network printing software to install the printer on your computer.

If you have purchased your printer and print server separately, you probably have two sets of documentation and two installation CDs -- which do you use? The section below on

should help you get started in the right place.

In addition, sometimes it's not immediately apparent where to find the printer driver that the installer needs. The section below on

Where do I find the printer driver? provides some useful pointers.

Which CD do I use?

Finally, the section below on

When do I stop? answers questions about when the installation process is

complete and whether, if you have two CDs, you need to use both of them.

If you would like a brief overview of what networks and network printing are about, along with some additional detail on the installation process, click here for

The Network Basics Tutorial.

Which CD do I use?

If you have both a printer CD and the Jetdirect CD, the steps below will help you decide which one to use.

Step 1: Is the print server's network connection wireless or wired?

● Wireless: Go to step 4.

● Wired:Go to step 2.

Step 2: Is the printer on the following list?

HP LaserJet 1200 HP LaserJet 1220

HP LaserJet 2200 HP LaserJet 3300 series HP LaserJet 4100 series HP LaserJet 9000 HP LaserJet 9000MFP HP Business Inkjet 2280 HP Color Inkjet cp1160 HP Deskjet 5550 HP Officejet D series

● No: Go to step 3.

● Yes: Use the printer CD. (It knows where to find the printer driver.) When prompted, select the

network connection option.

Step 3: Is the printer an MFP (multifunction printer) or an Officejet All-in-One printer?

● No: Go to step 4.

● Yes: Use the printer CD to install the printer as if it were connected directly to your computer;

this will install the printer driver on your computer. (You don't need to make any physical connection with a printer cable; just specify "parallel" when asked for the port.) Then use the Jetdirect CD to install the printer as a network printer. (This will use the printer driver that you just installed on the computer, and will set up the print path to the printer via the network.)

Note: Only the printing function will be available over the network. Other functions, such as scanning and faxing, will not be available over the network.

Step 4: For other HP printers or non-HP printers:

Use the Jetdirect CD to install the printer on your network. (You will need to know where your printer driver is located. See

Where do I find the printer driver? for more information.)

Note: An HP Web Jetadmin CD-ROM may also be included with selected HP Jetdirect products. HP Web

Jetadmin is a feature-rich printer management tool. However, it is not required for network printer installation.

Where do I find the printer driver?

At some point late in the installation, the installer software needs to have the printer driver to complete the installation. So at that point the installer may ask you where to find the driver. Knowing where to find the driver is usually the most subtle part of the installation.

If you are running the installer from your printer CD, the installer generally knows right where to look for the driver -- on the CD. If you are running the installer from the Jetdirect CD, the installer will probably need you to tell it where the driver is. Here are a few places you can look:

● The best source of a driver for your printer is the Web, because that gives you the latest driver.

(The drawback of getting your driver from the Web is that some drivers are quite large, and may take several minutes to download at modem speeds. We think it's worth spending the time.) The HP support site at http://www.hp.com/go/get_software has current drivers for most HP

printers.

If your printer is an HP printer and you are running the installer from the HP Jetdirect CD in the Autoconfigure network settings for me mode, you can select the option to download a driver automatically from the Internet. The installer will search the HP support site for a driver for your printer and, if it finds one, will automatically download it and install it for you. If you don't select the option to download a driver automatically from the Internet, you can download one manually before you run the installer.

● In many cases the driver is the same one that is used for a direct (non-networked) printer

connection, and you can probably find the driver on the CD that came with the printer.

In technical terms, what you need is a driver that installs using a .INF information file (rather than installing by running a .EXE file). Make sure that your driver files include the .INF file. (If you can't find the printer's .INF file, you may have to download the driver from the Web.)

● You may be able to find the driver on your operating system disc. If the operating system is more

recent than the printer, it probably includes a driver for that printer.

● If you previously had a direct connection from your computer to the same printer, or a network

connection to another printer of the same model, the network printer installer may be able to use the driver that is already on your computer.

The installer software takes the driver location you specify, finds the driver, and installs it in your system.

When do I stop?

Essentially, you are finished with the installation process when you have a network printer installed on your computer and you can print to it. That's usually when the test page prints successfully.

If you have two CDs -- a printer CD and the HP Jetdirect CD -- and you have just run the installer from the printer CD, it's common to wonder whether you should be running the installer on the Jetdirect CD as well. ("After all, that second CD must be there for a reason. Maybe I should run that installer, too, just to

be sure. . . .") You don't need to do that. Once your network printer prints successfully, you're done. (We

put the installer on the Jetdirect CD for situations where you can't find your printer CD, or where the printer CD's installer doesn't deal with network printers. If your printer CD does handle network printers, just run that installer and stop when it's done.)

General information

on the HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m print servers

General description

The HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m are LIO print server modules. That is, they plug into the LIO slots of certain HP printers and provide network connections for those printers. Formally speaking, they are:

J6039B HP Jetdirect 200m print server

J6042B HP Jetdirect 250m print server

Both print servers connect to Ethernet or Fast Ethernet networks using twisted-pair cabling.

The two print servers are similar in operation and performance. The 250m offers all the features of the 200m; in addition, it supports several additional network operating systems and has upgradable firmware.

Both print servers include an embedded Web server that allows remote management through a Web browser.

Compatibility

The 200m and 250m print servers are compatible with 10Base-T and 100Base-TX (Ethernet and Fast Ethernet) networks. They connect to the network via twisted-pair cabling, using an RJ-45 connector.

The 200m print server supports both peer-to-peer and client/server printer networking under TCP/IP; and supports peer-to-peer printer networking under IPX/SPX (direct mode), Apple EtherTalk, and lpd printing. Operating system support includes Windows (98, 2000, ME, NT 4.0, XP, and XP 64-bit) and MacOS (v 8.6 and later). See the section on

which protocols.

Specifications for details of which operating systems support

The 250m print server includes all the protocol support of the 200m, as well as client/server support for IPX/SPX under Novell NetWare and support of DLC/LLC, FTP and IPP printing. These protocols are, in

various combinations, supported on these operating systems: Windows (98, 2000, ME, NT 4.0, XP, and XP 64-bit), MacOS, Novell NetWare, IBM OS/2 Warp, HP-UX, Solaris (on SPARC systems), SCO UNIX, IBM AIX, and MPE-IX. See the section on Specifications for details of which operating systems support

which protocols.

The embedded Web server, which allows you to monitor and manage the print server remotely, requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, or Netscape Navigator 4.75 or later.

See the

Nomenclature

The main parts of the print server are shown in the illustration:

Specifications section for more details on the print servers.

The print server module plugs into the LIO slot of the printer until the latches click into place for a secure connection. (To unplug the print server, you press the latch release buttons and pull the print server out of the LIO slot.) The RJ-45 plug on the network cable plugs into the network connector. When the print server establishes a valid network connection, either the "10" or "100" link light comes on, to indicate a connection speed of 10 mbps or 100 mbps. The status light shows the health of the print server (see

attached printer (see

Package contents

The HP Jetdirect 200m and 250 m products include:

Interpreting the lights). You push the test button to print a configuration page on the

Interpreting the configuration page).

● print server module

● HP Jetdirect CD (includes installation software, manuals, and troubleshooting)

● setup poster

Install

the HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m print servers

There are two parts to installing the print server: hardware installation and software installation. We recommend strongly that you install the hardware first.

Installing the hardware

The basic steps in the hardware installation are:

1. Set up the printer.

2. Plug in the print server.

3. Plug in the network cable.

Click here for detailed hardware installation instructions.

Installing the software

Software installation for network printing includes:

● installing the printer driver on your computer

● establishing the print path between your computer and the network printer

The simplest way to install the software is to use the software CD that came with your printer. That CD contains all the software you need for a successful network printer installation, including the printer driver.

The software on the printer's CD handles installation for Windows and MacOS systems. Alternative software allows installation on other operating systems, as well as configuration and management of network printing. The Software Solutions Summary in the HP Jetdirect Administrator's Guide summarizes the available software, and provides pointers to additional information. (The HP Install Network Printer Wizard, described in the solutions summary, is the same software that comes on the printer's CD.)

Click here for instructions on using this software.

Installing the hardware

for the HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m print servers

Hardware installation for the Jetdirect 200m or 250m print server is very straightforward:

1. Set up the printer hardware. This step may vary among different printers, so check your printer documentation (setup poster or quick start guide) for details.

Do not connect the printer to your computer using a USB or parallel cable -- you will make your connection via the network in the next step.

If you encounter your printer's software CD as you set up your printer, keep it handy for use in the software installation, later.

2. Connect the print server, as follows:

❍ Switch on the printer's power.

❍ Plug in the print server. Push it into the printer's LIO slot until it seats firmly and the

latches click into place.

❍ Plug in the network cable. The print server works with either 10Base-T (Ethernet) or

100Base-TX (Fast Ethernet) network cabling, and connects via twisted-pair cabling with a standard (8-pin, RJ-45) connector. Plug one end of the cable into your network device (a hub, switch, or router — if your network cabling is hidden in the walls, your connection may be a wall outlet). Plug the other end into the print server.

❍ Check the lights. When you plug the print server into the printer, the status light

should start blinking green as it executes the self-test. After the print server completes the self-test, the light should continue to blink green as long as the network cable is not plugged in. When you plug in the network cable, the status light should change to solid green to indicate a valid network connection, or to intermittently flickering green to indicate a valid network connection with network activity. In addition, one of the two link lights (the "10" light or the "100" light) should come on solid green, to indicate the speed of the network connection (10 or 100 megabits per second).

If the status and link lights fail to exhibit this behavior (different color or different blink pattern), there is a problem. Click here for the troubleshooting procedure.

❍ Wait two minutes for the print server to poll the network for available protocols and

services.

❍ Print a configuration page by pushing the test button ( icon).

The printer should print a page that has information on the print server and the print server's network addresses and other parameters for the network protocols available on the network.

If the page does not print successfully, click here for the troubleshooting procedure.

This completes the hardware installation.

Troubleshooting during installation

If you encounter problems during installation, check these steps:

Test page does not print. Try these steps:

● Check that the print server is firmly seated in the printer's LIO slot and that the status light is ON

(solid, blinking, or flickering green).

● If the printer has an LCD panel, correct any errors that are displayed.

● If there is still a problem, call HP technical support.

Installer does not discover printer. Try these steps:

● Check that the print server is firmly seated in the printer's LIO slot and that the status light is ON

(solid green or intermittently flickering green). Wait 2 minutes for the print server to poll the network, then run the installer again.

● Check that the network cable is securely connected to the print server and that one of the link

lights is ON (solid green). Wait 2 minutes for the print server to poll the network, then run the installer again.

● Perform a cold reset: unplug the print server from the printer, then plug it in while pressing the

Test button. Wait 2 minutes for the print server to poll the network, then run the installer again.

● If there is still a problem, follow the hardware troubleshooting procedure (see next paragraph).

Other problems: Run the interactive hardware troubleshooter. Answer the questions by clicking on the buttons.

Click here for the troubleshooter.

What the Status light means:

OFF: not receiving power.

Green, ON solid: on and ready.

Green, blinking slowly: not ready or self-test in progress or no network connection (check link lights).

Green, blinking quickly: processing configuration page.

Amber, blinking slowly: fault -- follow the troubleshooting

procedure.

Green, flickering intermittently: on and ready; flickering indicates network activity.

Installing the software

for the HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m print servers

1. Choose the installation CD and run the installer.

Windows:

Use the CD that came with your printer (instead of the HP Jetdirect CD) if it is available. The printer's CD has all the software you need for a complete network installation.

Insert the printer's CD into your computer's CD drive. The CD should start automatically and offer you a choice of buttons — click on the Install button and follow the instructions on the screen. (If the CD does not start automatically, double-click on the SETUP program on the CD.) When the installer finishes and you can print to the network printer, you have completed the installation.

If the printer's CD is not available, insert the HP Jetdirect (print server) CD and run its installer. You will also need your printer's driver; if you don't have it, you can get it from the Web at

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/software.html.

MacOS:

Install the printer driver from the CD that came with the printer. That driver provides

connection to your network printer via the AppleTalk protocol. If the printer's CD is not available, you can get the driver from the Web at

If you need to print via the IP protocol, use the LaserJet utility on the HP Jetdirect (print server) CD.

For general information on setting up network printing on Macintosh systems,

2. Set up other computers as needed. In step 1, above, you installed the network printing software on a single computer. For a network with several computers that will use the same network printer, you will need to set up that printer on the remaining computers. The setup procedure you use depends on whether you are using peer-to-peer or client-server printing.

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/software.html.

click here.

For peer-to-peer printing (where each computer prints directly to the network printer), run the installer (as in step 3) on each computer.

For client/server printing (where each computer sends print jobs through a network server computer), you need run the installer only on the server, and set up the server for printer sharing. Then each client computer must install the printer driver and connect to the shared printer on the network server. (An easy way to do this is to use the Microsoft Windows Point and Print function. See your operating system documentation for details on Point and Print.)

For basic information on peer-to-peer and client/server printing, see the Network Basics

Tutorial on the HP Jetdirect CD.

Connecting Your Macintosh to an HP Printer on an Ethernet Network

Topics:

● If you simply want to print to a network printer, the easiest way is to use AppleTalk. The software

you need is contained in your HP printer driver, and the setup is quite straightforward. Refer to:

The basics: setting up to print to a network printer.

● If you want to go beyond simple printing, you will need additional software. To manage your

printer hardware -- tasks such as aligning the pens, setting the resolution, or printing test pages -you will use either the HP DeskJet Utility (for non-PostScript printers) or the HP LaserJet Utility (for PostScript printers). The DeskJet Utility is available as part of the HP printer driver; the LaserJet Utility is available from this HP JetDirect CD-ROM (as well as other sources). For instructions, refer to:

of your printer -- setting the printer name or printer zone, or setting up your printer for TCP/IP networking -- you will use the HP LaserJet Utility (regardless of which type of HP printer you have). Refer to:

● If you don't need your printer to be on a network, but do want to connect directly to it, you can set

up a direct printer connection using an Ethernet crossover cable and the network port on your system. This might be useful, for instance, if your printer's direct connect ports do not match the input/output ports on your Macintosh, as is the case with parallel printer ports. The section on

Setting up direct Ethernet printing explains how to make the connection.

Managing printer hardware. For tasks that involve the network aspects

Managing network printing for instructions.

The basics: setting up to print to a network printer

If all you want to do is print to a network printer, the setup is pretty straightforward. The first two steps are usually taken care of by your network administrator. If you have a network administrator (and he/she is not you), you can probably skip to step 3.

1. Set up the printer hardware. Remove any shipping materials; install the paper tray(s) and ink

or toner cartridges (as appropriate); add paper; plug in the power cord; print a test page. Don't connect the printer to your computer. (For detailed instructions, check your printer manual or setup poster.)

2. Connect the print server hardware. There are a few different cases to consider:

If you use an external print server, the print server is an external device that connects via a printer cable to the printer. Connect the printer cable -- USB or parallel, as appropriate -- between the printer and print server; connect the network cable to the print server; plug in the power cord; and print a configuration page to test the print server connection. (For detailed instructions, check your print server manual or setup poster.) The connections should look generally like the following illustration.

External print server setup

If you use an internal print server, the print server is a module that plugs into a slot in the printer. Many printers come with the print server module installed. If your print server module is not already installed, plug it into its slot in the printer. Then connect the network cable directly to the print server. Finally, print a configuration page to test the print server connection. (For detailed instructions, check your print server manual or setup poster.) The connections should look like this:

Internal print server setup

If your network wiring is hidden -- In many network installations, the network components (hubs, switches, &c.) are stored in a wiring closet and the network wiring is hidden in the walls. The only sign of the network that you see in such an installation is a wall outlet that has one or two network connectors. In this case, just use network cables to plug the computer and the print server into the wall outlets. (If you have any questions about such an installation, check with your network administrator.) The connections will look generally like the following illustration.

Connections to wall outlets

Note that in the drawings above we have omitted the power cords to keep things simple.

3. Get the right printer driver. You can get the driver from:

❍ the CD-ROM that came with the printer (this is quick, if you have the CD), or

❍ HP's support Web site, http://www.hp.com/cposupport/software.html (this gives you the

latest software, though it may take some time to download)

4. Install the driver. Double-click on the driver installer icon and follow the instructions.

5. Set up AppleTalk on Ethernet. Open up the AppleTalk control panel (in Control Panels under the Apple menu) and select "Connect via: Ethernet". When you close the control panel, it will ask if you want to save the configuration; answer "Yes".

6. Choose the printer in the chooser. Highlight the driver type from the panel on the left; if your network has multiple zones, make sure that you have selected the correct zone; select the printer from the list in the panel on the right; make sure that AppleTalk is active.

Typical selection of network printer

That's it. You're set up to print across the network using AppleTalk. If printing is all you want to do, you're done. You don't need to use the software on the HP Jetdirect CD-ROM. (That software is for managing the printer, but isn't needed for installing the printer.)

Managing printer hardware

The software for performing printer management tasks, such as aligning pens and setting printer

resolution, varies depending on whether your printer is a PostScript printer or a non-PostScript printer.

For non-PostScript printers (HP DeskJet, PhotoSmart, and OfficeJet):

Use the HP DeskJet Utility. This utility comes with the printer driver (from the CD or Web download)-you probably installed the printer driver when you set up network printing (the first task covered by this document). To find the DeskJet utility, go to your system drive, open the Utilities folder, and then open the hp deskjet folder.

Location of the HP DeskJet Utility

Double-click on the HP DeskJet Utility to start it, and you will see this dialog box:

HP DeskJet Utility

Check the printer listed in the status bar at the bottom of the dialog box. If it's not the printer you want to manage, go to the File menu, click on Select Printer, and select the appropriate printer.

Once you have the correct printer, you can perform any of the functions listed on the tabs at the top. Just click on the tab and follow the instructions that appear in the dialog box.

For PostScript printers (HP LaserJet and DesignJet):

Use the HP LaserJet Utility. This utility comes on the HP JetDirect CD-ROM (this CD); it is also available on the printer driver CD and via Web download. To install the utility from the JetDirect CD-ROM, open up the CD in the Finder and double-click on the version of the LaserJet Installer in your language; this installs the LaserJet Utility on your desktop. Then double-click on the LaserJet Utility icon on your desktop, and you will see a dialog box like this (the items in the list may vary with the printer you have selected):

HP LaserJet Utility

Check the current printer listed at the top of the dialog box. If it's not the printer you want to manage, click on the Printer Info button at the top of the left-hand column of buttons, click on the Select Printer button that appears in the main panel, and select the printer you want to manage. (You may need to change the printer type -- HP DeskWriter, PostScript Printer, &c. -- to see the printer you want.)

When you have selected the correct printer, click on the Settings button (second button in the left-hand column of buttons), choose the setting you want to change from the list in the main panel, click on the Edit button, and follow the instructions that appear.

Managing network printing

To change the printer name, printer zone, or TCP/IP parameters, use the HP LaserJet Utility. (You can use this utility even if your printer is not an HP LaserJet printer -- it works for DeskJet, PhotoSmart, OfficeJet, and DesignJet printers, too.) The utility comes on the HP JetDirect CD-ROM (this CD); it is also available on the printer driver CD and via Web download. To install the utility from the JetDirect CD-ROM, open up the CD in the Finder and double-click on the version of the LaserJet Installer in your language; this installs the LaserJet Utility on your desktop. Then double-click on the LaserJet Utility icon on your desktop, and you will see a dialog box like this (the items in the list may vary with the printer you have selected):

HP LaserJet Utility

Onec you have selected the correct printer, click on the Settings button (second button in the left-hand column of buttons), choose the setting you want to change from the list in the main panel, click on the Edit button, and follow the instructions that appear.

Setting up direct Ethernet printing

If you want a direct connection to your printer but don't need to share the printer with other computers, you can use an Ethernet crossover cable to make a direct connection between the computer and the HP JetDirect print server that attaches to the printer. (Note that this is not a standard network connection, though experience has shown it to work well in many cases. For best results, we recommend that Ethernet connections be made through standard network components, such as hubs and switches.)

The Ethernet crossover cable is available from most computer stores and mail-order houses; it is also

available as HP part number C6080-60015. Connect it from the network connector on the Macintosh to the network connector on the print server, as shown in the illustration below. If your print server is an external model, connect a printer cable between the print server and the printer. The illustration shows a typical print server and printer; yours may look different, but the basic cabling scheme will be the same. Note that we have omitted power cords from this drawing to keep things simple.

Crossover connection for fast direct printing

Troubleshooting

for HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m

The main body of this troubleshooting procedure will diagnose faults in the print server hardware; such diagnoses are the bedrock of sound troubleshooting. There are, however, a couple of situations that may occur during installation of a network printer that allow for a quick correction. We mention these first in the section below; if they don't correspond to the problem you are seeing with your print server, proceed to the hardware troubleshooting pages.

We also discuss a few tools and techniques that you may find useful, both for troubleshooting and for the general setup and maintenance of your print server.

● Installation Troubleshooting: Common Situations ❍ Installation fails (installer can't find printer driver) ❍ Installed printer stops working (DHCP problems) ❍ Computer stops connecting to network (possible DHCP problem)

● Hardware Troubleshooting

● Some Handy Tools ❍ Install Network Printer Wizard ("the installer") ❍ Embedded web server

● Some Useful Techniques ❍ Printing a configuration page ❍ Setting an IP address ❍ Performing a cold reset (reset to factory defaults)

Installation Troubleshooting: Common Situations

Though the following paragraphs don't cover all of the problems that may occur during installations, the few that we discuss are common and may match your situation. If these don't look like they apply to your situation, proceed with hardware troubleshooting

Installation fails (installer can't find printer driver)

If the network printer driver files to install on your computer, the installation will not complete successfully. This is usually a

problem if you are running the installer from the HP Jetdirect CD (the CD that came in the print server box if you bought your printer and print server separately). That installer is a general-purpose installer that works with virtually any HP printer and print server, and consequently doesn't know the details about drivers for any particular printer.

Any printer that can use the HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m print servers comes with its own CD, which contains a similar installer. There's a significant difference, though: the installer on the printer's CD

installer program (the Install Network Printer Wizard) can't find the right printer

knows where to find the printer driver (it's right there on the CD).

So if your installation fails and you've used the Jetdirect CD, try it again using the printer's CD. Alternatively, if the printer's CD isn't handy, you can

download the driver from HP's web site; then use

the installer on the Jetdirect CD, and point to the driver files you downloaded when the installer asks for them.

Installed printer stops working (DHCP problems)

If you have successfully installed your network printer and later find that you can't print to it, you may have a problem related to DHCP (the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

In a DHCP environment, a DHCP server allocates IP addresses from a pool as they are needed by computers and printers on the network. DHCP is common in medium-to-large networks in office settings, and also in Internet connections via telephone modem, cable modem, or DSL. DHCP-supplied addresses are dynamic -- that is, they can change -- and may cause problems for computers and printers, which expect IP addresses to be static.

To determine whether your print server is using a DHCP-supplied address, use one of these methods:

● Print a configuration page. Check the Config By parameter in the TCP/IP section.

● Use the embedded web server. Check the IP Configuration Method entry in the TCP/IP section

under the Networking tab.

If your print server acquired its IP address via DHCP, it may have changed its address since you set up the printer; this would make the printer unavailable. For instance, if someone unplugged the printer that held the print server, or if the power in your building went out, the print server may have acquired a different IP address when the power was re-applied. You can find out whether your IP address has changed by comparing the original IP address of your print server with the address shown on the configuration page (IP Address parameter in the TCP/IP section) or the in the embedded web server (IP address entry in the TCP/IP section under the Networking tab).

There are two ways you can solve the problem of a changing IP address:

● Re-install the network printer. Find the print server's new IP address (from the configuration

page you just printed, or by using the embedded web server). Then run the installer again, specify that you want to search for your printer by address (in one of the first few dialog boxes), and

enter the new IP address. Then follow the instructions on the rest of the screens to complete the installation.

Note that this may be a short-term solution; you will have to repeat it if the IP address changes again.

● Configure the print server with a static IP address. (You should consult with your network

administrator before you do this, and notify other printer users of any changes you make.) Use

embedded web server to change the IP Configuration Method to Manual, and then specify a

the new, static IP address. Your network administrator will be able to provide a suitable IP address.

Once you have set the new IP address, re-install the network printer, as described in the

preceding paragraphs.

Computer stops connecting to network (possible DHCP problem)

A DHCP problem with the print server could cause a computer to be unable to connect to the network. If a small local network connects to the Internet using DHCP-supplied IP address, and the number of IP addresses allocated for the local network is small, there are some circumstances in which a print server can "steal" the last DHCP-supplied IP address, and leave a computer with no address for connecting to the network. To make sure that this will not happen with your print server, you can configure the print server with a static IP address, as described in the last paragraph of the preceding section. (If this doesn't solve your computer's connection problem -- there are several possible causes -- at least it assures that the print server is not causing it.)

Hardware Troubleshooting

If you suspect a hardware fault with your print server, or if the installation problems described above don't seem to apply to your situation or to fix the problem, click here to continue with the hardware

troubleshooting procedure.

Some Handy Tools

The installer

The network printer installer, known formally as the Install Network Printer Wizard, provides an easy way to configure your print server with a network address and install the attached printer on your Windows computer. The installer resides on the HP Jetdirect CD; in addition, if your printer works with a Jetdirect 200m or 250m print server, your printer's CD contains a similar installer that will also handle network printer installation. We recommend that you use the printer's CD if it is available, since the installer on that CD already knows where to find the printer driver that it needs for installation.

To use the installer, insert the CD into the CD drive of your Windows computer. The CD's setup program should start automatically; if it doesn't, open the CD in the Windows Explorer and double-click on SETUP.EXE. Several buttons will appear on the screen; click on the Install button to start the installation. Follow the instructions on the screens that appear until you have completed the installation.

The embedded web server

Each Jetdirect 200m or 250m print server contains an embedded web server. This acts like a small web site that allows you to configure various parameters of the print server, such as an IP or IPX address. You use your standard web browser to view and set these parameters.

To use the print server's embedded web server, open your browser and enter the print server's IP address as the URL. (Most browsers will take a simple IP address; if yours doesn't, put an http:// before the IP address.) If you don't know your print server's IP address,

print a configuration page -- the IP address

will be listed in the TCP/IP section.

The embedded web server's screens should be reasonably self-explanatory, and a little exploration will probably show you what you need to know. (For full details on the embedded web server, refer to the

Jetdirect Administrator's Guide.) All entries show the current values of the print server's parameters,

and you can change those values by entering new ones (if your network administrator has allowed full access to them). Note that if you change the print server's IP address, you will lose the connection to the print server. You can reconnect by pointing your browser at the new IP address.

Some Useful Techniques

Printing a configuration page

To print a configuration page, press the Test button on the print server.

This will print out the current value of the print server's configuration parameters on the attached printer.

Setting an IP address

The easiest way to set an IP address on the print server is to use the embedded web server. (You should consult with your network administrator before you make any changes to the print server's configuration, and notify other users of any change you will make.)

To set an IP address:

1. Open your browser and enter the print server's IP address as the URL. (If you don't know the IP address, you can find it by

2. Click on the Networking tab in the page that appears.

3. On the Networking page, make sure that TCP/IP is selected.

4. Set the IP Configuration Method to Manual.

5. Enter the new IP address in the IP Address box.

Note that you will lose your connection to the embedded web server when you change the IP address. To

printing a configuration page.)

re-establish the connection, enter the new IP address in your browser's URL field.

Performing a cold reset (resetting to factory defaults)

Once you configure the HP print server, the configuration settings are retained in memory unless you manually reset them to factory defaults.

To reset the print server configuration to factory defaults, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the printer's power is on.

2. Unplug the print server from the printer.

3. While holding down the Test button on the print server, plug the print server back into the printer; continue to hold down the Test button for about five seconds. Any user-configured settings will be erased.

Troubleshooting Overview

for HP Jetdirect 200m and 250m

The questions below will help you troubleshoot your print server quickly. Just answer each question in turn. For each question:

● If your answer is Yes, go on to the next question.

● If your answer is No, there is a problem. Click on the No button for a procedure to solve the

problem. After you've solved the problem, the troubleshooting procedure may bring you back to this page.

● If you're not sure of the answer, or if you don't understand the question, click on the ??? button

for more detailed information about the question.

At the bottom of this page are links to some additional topics related to troubleshooting the print server.

If you wish to change an answer, you can click on this Reset button to return the page to its original state. (The Reset button stays inactive until you have clicked on at least one No or ??? button.)

Please answer the questions below in the order listed.

Is your printer ON and ONLINE?

If Yes, continue with the next question.

Is your print server's Status light ON (solid green or intermittently flickering green)?

If Yes, continue with the next question.

Is one of the print server's 10/100 link lights ON (solid green)?

If Yes, continue with the next question.

Can you print a Jetdirect configuration page?

HP Jetdirect 250m Print Server series User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Network Basics