onpointsystems
Level 1
(2 points)
Q: Intermittent AirPrint Issues
I am trying to figure out why an iPad, iPhone and a Mac Desktop sometimes prints and then the devices are not able to find the printer again. The printer is an Epson WF-3620 which is AirPrint ready and has the latest firmware per manufacturer. The printer is connected to the same WiFi as all the devices. All Apple devices have the latest iOS and OS versions (yosemite 10.10.2, etc..).
The WiFi is configure as follows:
4 Access points using the same SSID each on its own channel with a 3-4 channel separation between each channel. The reason for this type of configuration is to provide WiFi coverage through a large area and allow devices to connect to the access point with the strongest signal (for WiFi roaming). However this issue was pre-existing even when the built WiFi from the ISP modem was being used. The AP are connected to a dumb switch and the switch is connected to a Motorola Surfboard.
At first I thought the printer may have an issue with the wireless config so I created a new SSID on the closest AP to the printer (about 2 feet away) and connected the printer to that new SSID with a lower security type (went from WPA2 to WPA). Still Airprint issues, worked for a bit, allowed to sit for 10 minutes, then tried to print and now the devices are not able to find the printer (sleep setting on printer is set for 4 hours). Restart the AP and then we can print again but then the issue appears again. I installed a Lantronix xPrintserver Home device (it works like AirPort) so that we could connect the printer to the USB port then I connected the xPrinterserver to the LAN (cable) and disabled the WiFi on the printer.
Bingo, all devices were able to print but again, after waiting a few minutes of no activity the devices could no longer find the printer or if it found it when you click on print it would hang on connecting to printer. So I concluded, with AirPrint same issue over WiFi, same issue wired (LAN) and a different AirPrint capable device still the same issue. I did forget to add the same exact issue also occurred with a Canon printer that was AirPrint ready.
I did notice on the Mac Desktop that has Yosemite 10.10.2 when you open the printer queue to see the print job you can click on the settings gear. Once you do this there is a button that says open printer web settings or something like that, can't remember right now. When you click on this button it opens up safari and tries to connect to the printers webpage but I noticed it is using the hostname.local name as opposed to the IP. I also noticed the printer page would not load but if I typed the IP instead the page opens with no issues. I have contacted Apple support and no one really has any idea of the actual workings of AirPrint (technical level) to let me know if the AirPrint feature uses name resolution to find the printer or does it use "specifically" just the IP or a combination of both. The reason I ask this question is because on the Mac Desktop if you try to ping hostname.local it is not able to ping the printer, however, if I use the IP of the printer it responds with no issues. If I do an nslookup of hostname.local it shows it is trying to resolve to an IP that is not part of the internal network but an IP from the ISP's DNS server that is not routable. For example, the internal network is 192.168.0.x but the nslookup shows 198.150.x.x for hostname.local. This of course means the desktop is using the ISP DNS servers for name resolution. So I added the printer IP and hostname.local to the Mac desktop hosts file and now we are able to ping hostname.local with the correct IP but of course I am assuming the OS will use the hosts file first before the DNS servers for name resolution. This seem to work for the Mac Desktop for a little but then the issue appeared again. I know, I know, this is turning into a novel with suspense and thriller.
At the end of all this I decided to wait until the Mac Desktop started having the printer issue again. This time I decided to turn off WiFi and turn it back on and presto the desktop can now print. I did the same to the iOS device (iPad, etc..) and presto they started to print with no issues. I waited until the issue started again and turned off/on WiFi on the iOs and OS X devices and presto, we can print again. I did this a few times and every single time the printer was not found I turned off/on the WiFi on the devices and printing worked with no issues. I am not able to figure, explain or conclude why doing this would cause the printing to function correctly. This is currently the workaround we have for this issue but of course it is a band aid. I did forget to add that although the printer is not found the devices still have internet access and connected to the WiFi; just in case that question comes up.
I was able to find another discussion where the user stated they turned off/on their WiFi and they were able to print.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what can be causing these intermittent issues?
If you fell asleep I understand.
iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), null
Eric Root
