Troubleshoot Network Issues

'hp-makeuri' fails to find my network printer

Applies To
Symptoms: 

'hp-makeuri' fails to find my network printer

Solution: 
  1. Determine the IP address of your printer by printing out the network configuration page (or if you know it or can determine it in another way)
  2. Run:
$ hp-makeuri <ip-address>

For example:

$ hp-makeuri 192.168.1.1
  1. This will result in a device URI printed to the console. For example:
hp:/net/Officejet_9100_series?ip=192.168.1.1
  1. Copy this device URI
  2. Open the CUPS UI:
http://localhost:631

(or YasT, etc) and install the printer by pasting the generated URI.

I can 'ping' my network printer but 'hp-makeuri' won't generate a device URI for it

Symptoms: 

hp-makeuri won't generate a device URI

Cause: 
  1. Check to make sure SNMP is properly installed. Check your distribution documnetation on how to do this.
  2. Check your network firewall and make sure it is configured so that access to port 9100 is not blocked.
  3. Make sure the printer is powered on, and that the network cable is pluged into the printer and configured correctly.

My network connected scanner cannot be seen by OpenOffice or xsane

Symptoms: 

OpenOffice or xsane cannot see my network connected scanner

Cause: 

CUPS queue not configured properly

Solution: 

For network scanning, the "hp:/net/..." URI must be configured in the CUPS queue for auto-discovery by OpenOffice and xsane. You can manually specify the URI with xsane using the following format:

xsane <"hpaio" device uri>

For example:

xsane hpaio:/net/PSC_750?ip=12.25.63.142

(Where the CUPS installed device URI is: hp:/net/PSC_750?ip=12.25.63.142, and the hp: was replaced with hpaio:)

Troubleshooting my network attached printer

Solution: 

If you are confguring a network printer and are experiencing problems here are some troubleshooting steps.

Does the printer have an IP address?

Ensure that the printer is connected to the network and has an IP address. Refer to your printer documentation for specific information on how to view/configure the printer IP address.

Can you ping the printer?

Open a terminal window and run "ping ip.address.of.printer". If you don't get a response there could be a network configuration problem. If you can't ping the printer HPLIP will not function correctly.

Does running snmpwalk get a response from the printer?

Run:

snmpwalk -Os -c public -v 1 ip.address.of.printer 1.3.6.1.4.1.11.2.3.9.1.1.7.0

You should get a response like (varies depending on the printer model):

enterprises.11.2.3.9.1.1.7.0 = STRING:
"MFG:Hewlett-Packard;CMD:PJL,MLC,BIDI-ECP,PCL,POSTSCRIPT,PCLXL;MDL:hp
LaserJet 3380;CLS:PRINTER;DES:Hewlett-Packard LaserJet
3380;MEM:23MB;COMMENT:RES=1200x1;"

If you do not get this sort of response then there is a problem with your snmp configuration. Ensure that the required dependencies for snmp are installed and/or refer to your distro documentation.

Ensure that the correct ports are open.

Make sure that port 161 (udp and tcp), port 162 (udp and tcp) and port 9100 (udp and tcp) are open through your firewall. If these are not open then HPLIP will not function.