3100cn IP address changing

Question

I have a client who setup their 3100cn Color Laser printer several months ago, using the Dell provided installation CD.  It is on a P2P network with three systems, a Linksys router providing DHCP, and the Dell 3100cn on the network as well.  All worked well for several months until recently.  Last Friday the printer's IP address changed for 'no apparent reason'.  To remedy the issue; I left the printers new IP address alone, I changed the Port settings on all machines to match the printers IP, and I changed the lease time on the DHCP router to 7 days.  Over the weekend 'it' changed again.  What I mean by 'it' is, either the printers IP address changed or the Port IP settings on each system; I am not sure which.   My questions are:   - Is there a componet of either the Dell Printer Console or Dell Print Drivers which could change the Port IP settings on each system?   - If not, any idea as to what could have changed the IP address on the 3100cn, and should I statically set the IP address on the printer?   - Finally, what is the setting in the printer called 'Auto IP' and how is it different from DHCP?   Thank you in advance for any help.

bobstein · Answer

Hi,

Did you turnt he printer off during your test? I understand that if the printer is turned off when on the netwrok, that the printer will reset it's address. I'm not an expert but I have had the same problem.

Good luck.

RokN2Day · Answer

Powering off the printer shouldn't result in an IP address change. The DHCP server is looking at the MAC address when it assigns the IP address to the printer. Since the lease is 7 days, as long as the printer is powered up at least once during that 7 day window there should never be a change in the IP address. I have also read of issues with the 3100cn's NIC on variable length subnet networks. It sounds to me like there are issues with the 3100cn's NIC. I would contact Customer Support and make them aware of the issue directly.

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