[SOLVED] How did my multifunction printer/scanner/copier get a new IP address?

[relztrah]

Where I work we have a Kyocera multifunction printer/scanner/copier that we've used for years. It came without a network card so I purchased one, installed it, and a friend helped me put it on our wireless network. It has always had IP address 192.168.1.130 and as I have connected employees laptops, I configure it using the Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname feature in Windows. I use autodetect and type in 192.168.1.130, etc. and it works.

Yesterday we all started getting an out of paper message whenever we sent a job to that printer. It wasn’t out of paper and I spent a good part of the morning troubleshooting and looking for a hardware solution or some setting that was causing that error message. I thought it had something to do with the paper tray, but it didn't. Why it gave the out of paper message due to a network error is not my question right now.

Out of curiosity I looked at the settings on the printer itself and saw that it had IP address 192.168.1.133. I browsed to that IP address and confirmed in the printer interface that indeed the IP address has changed.

Once I knew that, I could go into the Kyocera printer settings on my laptop and add a new port.





I added port 192.168.1.133.



Then I set that port for the Kyocera.



When I click Apply it automatically sets that IP address for the Kyocera, and I can print to it normally. So what I now have to do is go around the office to every laptop and add that port and assign it to the Kyocera. This isn't a big inconvenience since there are only 5 or 6 laptops that print to the Kyocera.

But what I don't understand is how the IP address changed in the first place. Wasn't it a dynamic IP address? Nobody went into the printer settings and changed it and I know that because you need a password to log into the settings and only I have that password.

I had to tinker with our network last week because we weren't able to connect to the wifi. I disconnected and reconnected the routers and modem several times and ultimately called our ISP and they did some remote mumbo-jumbo which allowed us to connect to the wifi. But that shouldn't have made any changes to the Kyocera, right?

Independently of how this happened, is there a way to make 192.168.1.133 the fixed IP address of the printer? One of these years I'm going to retire and nobody else here would have a clue as to how to troubleshoot such a situation. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[xilolee]

Hi!

First method: set up a static ip address for each device on your office, printer included.
Second method: open your router settings, check dhcp server start and end addresses, set up a static ip for your printer using an ip out of that range.
Example: dhcp start: 192.168.1.35, dhcp end: 192.168.1.254 - you can use ip between 192.158.1.2 and 192.168.34 for your printer; the other devices will get an automatic ip from 192.168.1.35 to 192.168.1.254.

 

[plodr]

I disconnected and reconnected the routers and modem several times

That WILL change the IP of devices. I got tired of having to determine the IP of our printer every time the power went down so as xilolee mentioned above, I set a static IP only for the printer. That solved the problem. I too got tired of going into 4 PCs and changing the printer address.

 

[xrobwx71]

Wasn't it a dynamic IP address?

Dynamic address will change. What you need to do is go into your router settings and assign a Static IP to the printer. Then it won't change.

I had to tinker with our network last week because we weren't able to connect to the wifi. I disconnected and reconnected the routers and modem several times and ultimately called our ISP and they did some remote mumbo-jumbo which allowed us to connect to the wifi.

This is what most definitely changed that IP. The IP#'s are assigned by the router, not the printer.

On my network at work, I had to assign Static IP's to all my printers.

 

[Digerati]

How big is this network? Do you use multiple routers or multiple IP subnets on your network? If not, then I recommend using IP "reservations" instead of Static IP assignments. These are similar functions with similar results, but definitely different.

The reason your issues happens is because after a power outage (or recycling of router), when using "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)" (as most users do), new IP addresses are assigned on a first come first serve basis. So if Printer C is first to connect after power is restored, it will get the first IP assignment. After the next outage, if Printer E is first, it gets the first assignment and all the other devices "shift".

I live in Tornado Alley so this was really a pain here. Even though all my computers and my network is supported by good UPSs, long-duration outages are not uncommon. So, once the UPS supporting my network runs out of battery, I would frequently have to configure my computers to access the networked printers via a different IP address. Not fun.

Static assignments will work but unlike the others, I do NOT recommend using Static IP assignments - except for file servers. To assign a Static IP, in some cases it must be done manually on each device, as well as in the router. That is, you have to run around the building and go into the menu system of each printer, each computer, each NAS, etc. access the NICs configuration menu, and manually set an IP address. What a pain - especially if you have many different devices.

The much easier (IMO) and definitely much faster approach is to set up a "DHCP Reservation" address. It is much easier because you do it all in your router's admin menu. And it is MUCH FASTER because you do it in your router's admin menu for every device you want to assign the same IP address. You don't need to run around the building to every device, navigate a bunch of different menu systems, then figure out to assign that address.

It is also MUCH EASIER because you can easily see in that one menu system, which IP addresses you have used. Therefore, it is much easier to keep track of what IP address you assigned to which device. Even if the printer is taken off line, you can still see what IP address you assigned to it in your router's admin menu. Nice! :)

Note that different routers may use slightly different terminology for this feature. Log into your router's admin menu and look around. In my Netgear Nighthawk router's admin menu, I go to Advanced > Setup > LAN Setup. From there, there is a section called "Address Reservation". If the device is already connected, it is as simple as selecting it and setting the address. If not currently connected, you can manually enter the MAC Address and assign an IP address. Piece of case.

The way it works from then on is when the device attempts to connect to your network, the router sees the MAC address, then assigns the "reserved" IP address to it. Done! No other device can ever have it - unless you assigned a Static IP address to it too. Then "conflicts" happen. Not good.


See: Difference between static IP and DHCP reservation

 

[xilolee]

How big is this network? Do you use multiple routers or multiple IP subnets on your network? If not, then I recommend using IP "reservations" instead of Static IP assignments. These are similar functions with similar results, but definitely different.

The reason your issues happens is because after a power outage (or recycling of router), when using "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)" (as most users do), new IP addresses are assigned on a first come first serve basis. So if Printer C is first to connect after power is restored, it will get the first IP assignment. After the next outage, if Printer E is first, it gets the first assignment and all the other devices "shift".

I live in Tornado Alley so this was really a pain here. Even though all my computers and my network is supported by good UPSs, long-duration outages are not uncommon. So, once the UPS supporting my network runs out of battery, I would frequently have to configure my computers to access the networked printers via a different IP address. Not fun.

Static assignments will work but unlike the others, I do NOT recommend using Static IP assignments - except for file servers. To assign a Static IP, in some cases it must be done manually on each device, as well as in the router. That is, you have to run around the building and go into the menu system of each printer, each computer, each NAS, etc. access the NICs configuration menu, and manually set an IP address. What a pain - especially if you have many different devices.

The much easier (IMO) and definitely much faster approach is to set up a "DHCP Reservation" address. It is much easier because you do it all in your router's admin menu. And it is MUCH FASTER because you do it in your router's admin menu for every device you want to assign the same IP address. You don't need to run around the building to every device, navigate a bunch of different menu systems, then figure out to assign that address.

It is also MUCH EASIER because you can easily see in that one menu system, which IP addresses you have used. Therefore, it is much easier to keep track of what IP address you assigned to which device. Even if the printer is taken off line, you can still see what IP address you assigned to it in your router's admin menu. Nice! :)

Note that different routers may use slightly different terminology for this feature. Log into your router's admin menu and look around. In my Netgear Nighthawk router's admin menu, I go to Advanced > Setup > LAN Setup. From there, there is a section called "Address Reservation". If the device is already connected, it is as simple as selecting it and setting the address. If not currently connected, you can manually enter the MAC Address and assign an IP address. Piece of case.

The way it works from then on is when the device attempts to connect to your network, the router sees the MAC address, then assigns the "reserved" IP address to it. Done! No other device can ever have it - unless you assigned a Static IP address to it too. Then "conflicts" happen. Not good.


See: Difference between static IP and DHCP reservation

Yup, that's another way to do it.

You need to know the mac address of the printer, sometimes the hostname (in some routers it's optional) and its IP.
The static ip, done like I wrote in the second method, will involve only the printer, by the way.

My router calls it "static lease":

 

[Digerati]

You need to know the mac address of the printer, sometimes the hostname (in some routers it's optional) and its IP.

Typically, no you don't - assuming it is already connected. Then it will show on the router's list of attached devices. That's why it is so easy. And the only IP address you need to know is the one you want to assign to it.

 

[relztrah]

Well, well, well. I've learned more about IP addresses and networking through this experience than in the previous several years. First, my sincere thanks to all who replied. Second, as soon as I finish this post I will make another donation.

I ended up calling our ISP who sent a technician since they could not log on to the router remotely. And in fact the tecnnician could not log into the router locally. Apparently it's old technology but I still don't understand why he was unable to log on to it. For reasons I completely understand, they block customers from simply surfing to 192.168.1.1 and seeing the router where they can make changes.

So really, there was no way for either me or the technician to reserve IP 192.168.1.133 as Digerati suggested. That seemed to me the simplest solution. But in fact it isn't necesssary after all. I explained the Kyocera printer situation to the technician who was sent by our ISP and he took a look at the settings. There is a way to toggle the Auto-IP feature.



If I set Auto-IP to off, that will make 192.168.1.133 the static IP address for the printer. Problem solved!

Thanks again to all who replied.

 

[Digerati]

Note if you are in the US, you can buy your own router (and modem too - or residential gateway which is wireless router and modem combined).

This is what I do. Then it is mine, all mine. And they cannot block access to me - but I sure can block them. :)

The bigger advantage is you don't pay those rental fees which typically end up costing several times over the amount of buying your own.

As far as your screen shot, note that is Page 1 of 2. Not sure what is on Pg 2 but there may have been more options.

Either way, I am glad you got it sorted out and thanks for posting your status update.

For reasons I completely understand, they block customers from simply surfing to 192.168.1.1

Well, for the record, I do not understand them blocking that at all. Users should be able to access it. You need to, for example, see who is attached to your network to make sure only those you authorize access are accessing it. That is done in the admin menu. And in the case of wireless routers, users need to be able to set and change their wifi passphrases to again, only allow users you want access to have that access.