No General Thread so Giving up with network.

[Reality4711]

clicked 'continue here'
[doublepost=1555342738][/doublepost]Checked all the numbers - A-OK!

Just ticked 'Share this printer on Network' - made no difference.

 

[Reality4711]

Hopefully chat tomorrow.

 

[monokakata]

Turn on Bonjour (on the printer)

Also, using the browser of your choice, see what happens if you type "192.168.1.150" in the browser's address bar.

You might be taken to some screens that make the printer setup easier.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Scanning through these posts....the fact that the printer did not get a DHCP IP could be a sign of a network issue. There are several other clues, including "unable the verify printer on network".

If there is a network issue (bad cable, bad NIC, etc.) no amount of manual configuration will fix that. You will just be chasing your tail.

I would suggest consider focusing on why the printer is not visible nor getting an IP. If you have a spare network anything (computer, printer, etc.) you could:

1. unplug the 3880 Ethernet cable
2. plug in your test device to the cable that came out of the 3880

If your test device works correctly: gets an IP and behaves correctly...then the issue would likely be the printer itself.

If your test device does not work correctly...then that would point to the cable, the port on the switch, the switch...or something else, including the router itself being the problem.

 

[Reality4711]

Scanning through these posts....the fact that the printer did not get a DHCP IP could be a sign of a network issue. There are several other clues, including "unable the verify printer on network".

If there is a network issue (bad cable, bad NIC, etc.) no amount of manual configuration will fix that. You will just be chasing your tail.

I would suggest consider focusing on why the printer is not visible nor getting an IP. If you have a spare network anything (computer, printer, etc.) you could:

1. unplug the 3880 Ethernet cable
2. plug in your test device to the cable that came out of the 3880

If your test device works correctly: gets an IP and behaves correctly...then the issue would likely be the printer itself.

If your test device does not work correctly...then that would point to the cable, the port on the switch, the switch...or something else, including the router itself being the problem.

The printer is connected to the route/modem via the cable used for my MacPro and is in the same port. The Mac performed perfectly.
Original printer connecting cable is now connected to my MacPro and is using the printers original port all OK.

I am finding the Epson hard to set up. eg. when I opened the menu this morning (now) the ip. addresses had all changed since I set them yesterday??

I have just set them again with no connection found.

Will restart printer and take another look at the setup menu.
[doublepost=1555415521][/doublepost]Restart this time and the settings are all OK

IP 192.168.1.150
SN 255.255.255.000
GW192.168.1.254

Tried 192.168.1.150 into my browser

What the hell happened to 'Plug & Play'?

 

[hobowankenobi]

Good question.

Sounds like the issue is the printer.

How old is it? Any firmware updates available from Epson?

Does it behave well when connected via USB?

 

[imaccooper]

It might not be the only problem or even a problem at all, but some routers don't behave correctly when you switch things around in the plugs. They need to restart or refresh to find the new ip address on that port. Again, it might not be a problem, but it is currently the only thing I can think of that doesn't point to a printer problem.

 

[retta283]

Got to agree, the router may need a refresh and a flushed IP. Worth a shot if you're still having issues. Besides that there could be hardware/software issues in the printer. Very strange

 

[hobowankenobi]

It might not be the only problem or even a problem at all, but some routers don't behave correctly when you switch things around in the plugs. They need to restart or refresh to find the new ip address on that port. Again, it might not be a problem, but it is currently the only thing I can think of that doesn't point to a printer problem.

I would agree, generally; can do no harm to reboot.

But for a static IP....that would be unusual, and bad. Even DHCP should be live nearly instant.

I would want a new/better router if that were the case.

 

[Reality4711]

Good question.

Sounds like the issue is the printer.

How old is it? Any firmware updates available from Epson?

Does it behave well when connected via USB?

5/6years.

Firmware updates - I tend not to touch on printers. Lost a £3,500 HP printer by upgrading the firmware. HP told me when I asked for help that firmware upgrades where at the users own risk. Don't know if it is the same with epson but given how they normally respond to anything I ask (see FAQ or B****r O**) I am not keen to try.
Works OK on the usb2 line and I cannot afford a new printer or Modem/router (this supplied by ISP).
[doublepost=1555430477][/doublepost]

It might not be the only problem or even a problem at all, but some routers don't behave correctly when you switch things around in the plugs. They need to restart or refresh to find the new ip address on that port. Again, it might not be a problem, but it is currently the only thing I can think of that doesn't point to a printer problem.

I would agree, generally; can do no harm to reboot.

But for a static IP....that would be unusual, and bad. Even DHCP should be live nearly instant.

I would want a new/better router if that were the case.

It might not be the only problem or even a problem at all, but some routers don't behave correctly when you switch things around in the plugs. They need to restart or refresh to find the new ip address on that port. Again, it might not be a problem, but it is currently the only thing I can think of that doesn't point to a printer problem.

I think you can all see my lack of knowledge on this subject is massive.

Maybe a no go project unless a few ££££££ come my way.

You have all helped and I thank you all - I do now officially - GIVE UP.

 

[retta283]

Also got to agree not to mess with the firmware. I had a really bad experience with an HP, totally bricked it.

Unless there is a serious problem there's no real reason to mess with updating the firmware

 

[monokakata]

Don't give up yet! I agree with others that it's starting to look like a hardware problem, but also might be the case that there are software/firmware conflicts that we can't easily see and they are the issue.

First, download an IP scanner utility app such as this one:

https://angryip.org/

and use it to scan your network. That way, you can see what the printer's actual IP address is. I've been in situations where I firmly believed that a device was at a certain IP address, but it wasn't, and it was hard to learn the actual IP address without a scanner. I use a different scanner (not free) but this one ought to tell you what you need to know: it the damn thing there somewhere, and if it is, what's its actual IP address?

Second -- my thinking now is to treat the printer as if you'd just bought it.

I downloaded the manual and took a quick look.

If you haven't turned Bonjour on, do so now. It appears to be required.

Another thing to try is to connect the printer to one of the Macs vis USB, and then download and install the printer software from Epson (if you no longer have the CD). It appears that you can do this via USB.

From the manual:
Mac OS X

1. Make sure that your computer and printer are turned on and that the printer is connected to the computer.
   
   
2. Insert the printer software CD in your CD or DVD drive.
   
   
3. Double-click the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 icon.
   
   
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install all necessary software and register your printer.
   
   
5. Double-click the User’s Guide icon to place links to the User’s Guide and Network Guide on your desktop.
   
   
6. If connecting to a network, double-click the Ethernet Utility icon to install the EpsonNet Configuration utility (located in the EpsonNet folder under Applications).
   
   
7. When you’re done, close the installer and eject the CD. Restart the Macintosh if prompted.

See “Adding the Network Port” below to create a network port for your printer.


From the manual:

Mac OS X

See the section below for your printing method.

TCP/IP Printing (recommended)

1. Open System Preferences.
   
   
2. Open Print & Scan or Print & Fax.
   
   
3. Click the + button to add a new printer.
   
   
4. Select the EPSON TCP/IP printer model. (If you don’t see it listed, click More Printers and select EPSON TCP/IP from the drop down list.)
   
   
5. Click Add.

You can now use the printer on your network.

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Setting Up the Printer On a Network | 23

Bonjour Printing

1. Open System Preferences.
   
   
2. Open Print & Scan or Print & Fax.
   
   
3. Click the + button to add a new printer.
   
   
4. Select the printer model that is connected with Bonjour.
   
   
5. Click Add.

You can now use the printer on your network.

(To this I'd add that if you see anything relating to the printer at all when you open Sys Prefs/Printing, that you remove it/them.)

 

[hobowankenobi]

Considerations:

1. Firmware updates....sure, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But it is broke, so...maybe? They did make changes to networking:

Network Firmware v1.05

• 08/31/18
• 1.00 MB
• FW_PG_105.dmg

Description :


This firmware update contains network security improvements as well as additional bug fixes and enhancements. Use Remote Panel Utility to update firmware.


Compatible systems :


macOS 10.14.x, macOS 10.13.x, macOS 10.12.x, Mac OS X 10.11.x, Mac OS X 10.10.x, Mac OS X 10.9.x, Mac OS X 10.8.x, Mac OS X 10.7.x


2. If the printer is printing fine, and behaving well via USB, how about ditching network printing, and print via USB, and then share it over the network via printer sharing? Would bypass the NIC, IP and all other networking.

Biggest downside is the host computer has to be on (the one with the USB connection) to share the printer. So your Mac would have to be running for anybody (your machine or others) to print to the 3880.

 

[Reality4711]

All the installation software is "Lion"!

I cannot match your instructions to what I see.
I cannot match anything to the Epson site.
I have tried - honest.

Thank you everyone but this is just beyond me! I get the feeling anyone of you sat at my desk could suss this, just not me.
So thank you all again. Until things change. That is it .