Printer connection to a router

Juan · 22-02-2009, 02:37

Do u need a print server built into a router to connect a wireless printer to it? I've connected some wireless printers to routers before but they are given their automatically IP address by DHCP, therefore I was wondering would it still work if the IP address that the router gave to the printer changed? Also, does a print server have additional features to make the connection work reliably?

Thanks

Aragorn · 22-02-2009, 09:23

If you have a wireless printer it will have a 'print server' built in.
DHCP addresses will 'work' but they could easily change each time the router and printer are restarted.
The printer's web interface will allow you to assign a fixed IP in the routers IP range, eg my router hands out DHCP IPs starting at 192.168.1.100, so my printer is set to 192.168.1.95.
Once you have a fixed on the printer you can start connecting client PC's to it, via that fixed IP.

Juan · 23-02-2009, 01:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

If you have a wireless printer it will have a 'print server' built in.
DHCP addresses will 'work' but they could easily change each time the router and printer are restarted.
The printer's web interface will allow you to assign a fixed IP in the routers IP range, eg my router hands out DHCP IPs starting at 192.168.1.100, so my printer is set to 192.168.1.95.
Once you have a fixed on the printer you can start connecting client PC's to it, via that fixed IP.

I was thinking whether Wireless printers use a naming system, i.e. they print to the device name not the IP address, therefore you wouldn't need to use a static address? Or is the printer communicating via the Default Gateway of the router, so it doesn't matter if it's own address changes?

nash · 23-02-2009, 05:24

I have installed printers before on a router and given it the routers default gateway ip addy. The router had a usb port though.

ZrByte · 23-02-2009, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

If you have a wireless printer it will have a 'print server' built in.
DHCP addresses will 'work' but they could easily change each time the router and printer are restarted.
The printer's web interface will allow you to assign a fixed IP in the routers IP range, eg my router hands out DHCP IPs starting at 192.168.1.100, so my printer is set to 192.168.1.95.
Once you have a fixed on the printer you can start connecting client PC's to it, via that fixed IP.

It is normally possible to set a static IP to a MAC address on the router itself. I think it is normally referred to as IP reservation.