This is the weirdest problem:

Currently our 5100cn is connected locally to a pc where there is only one ethernet port nearby. 

Other printers in our office are networked using IP addresses, and we can access the Printer Console and have it send us email alerts and its great.

I thought by using a switch, I could network our 5100cn via ethernet instead of usb, but it keeps picking up an ip that is not within our network.

Here's the strange thing:  if I plug the ethernet cable from the printer right into the wall outlet, it gets a correct ip address, something like 192.168.16.42.

However, if i plug the cable into the switch and then the switch into the wall, it gets a weird IP address, something like 169.254.53.198 - totally outside of our range.

I have tried manually entering the IP address from within the printer menu, but it won't print and I can't access the web console either.  I have setup a DHCP reservation (through our SBS 2003 DHCP service), but it will not list as active, even with the manual settings entered on the printer.

I have switched switches just to make sure there is not a problem with the equipment.  The pc that is also connected to the switch gets an IP address just fine:  192.168.16.33.  2 PCs connected to a switch elsewhere in the office are getting IP addresses within our range:  192.168.16.24 & 192.168.16.25 - so I really couldn't understand what the problem is with the printer.

I have powered down the printer, PC, and switch several times in a different order each time.  Can anyone suggest what to do next?

Thanks,

Carrie