Error -50 with Canon MF9170, Mac OSX 10.6.4

Question

Error -50 with Canon MF9170, Mac OSX 10.6.4

Hi all!

This is my first post ever in this forum - I'm quite new to Mac OS.

I am trying to install a Canon multifunctional colour laser printer MF9170 (amlost the same as MF8450) under 10.6.4 (Mac Pro 3,1) with the Canon UFR II V2.10 driver (networ install). I repeatedly get an error "-50". After hours on the telephone with the Canon helpdesk I have no idea what to try next. The printer is running perfectly under Linux

Here is what I tried so far:

- Installation attempt on a factory-new MacBook pro i5
- Installation via USB
- Installation attempts with all available UFR II drivers from NZ and Europe
- Fixed permissions on HD
- Set printer queue name as "LD" as PAHU suggested

I can ping the printer, it shows up on my web browser so I guess the network config is fine. I made it print once but the next day after rebooting the Mac -50 started to show again. Canon helpdesk is at it's wits end and so am I. Does somebody has had a similar problem or could help me out here?

Thanks a lot to everyone taking the time to read this!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 30, 2010 9:33 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 30, 2010 9:52 AM in response to SteveJobsHimself

What I forgot: I also got a low on memory error for IO service from UFR II with the hint to add memory and an error code 10554. This is strange because I had 1,7 GB of free RAM on the computer when the error occoured and the document I tried to print was just the word "test" in plain text.

Hope this helps more than it is confusing 🙂

Reply

Answer 2

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Aug 30, 2010 6:28 PM in response to SteveJobsHimself

The -50 error with the UFRII driver typically indicates an incorrect protocol being used for network connection. But for the v2.10 driver, from what I have seen, regardless of what IP protocol you select when creating the network queue the resulting queue uses LPD. That said it would still be worth checking the address that you have for the queue to the 9170. If you open System Preferences > Print & Fax, select the MF9170 queue and then open Options & Supplies, under the General tab your network queue will be shown next to URL. For your reference, it should look something similar to my queue to an iR C3380.

cntdbmu://MCD UFR2_LPR/iR_C3380__UFR2/lpd://172.17.2.218/

Could you copy (highlight the text and then press ⌘C) and paste it back here.

With regards to the memory error, I have seen this with the previous v2.05 driver when printing to a Canon LBP6650dn. Interesting thing was that this error only occurred when printing via USB. When printing via Ethernet the error would not occur. The issue was resolved when using the v2.10 UFRII driver. If you have tried different versions of the UFRII driver then maybe you version conflicts on your Mac. You could try deleting the existing queue (via Print & Fax simply highlight the queue then press the minus button under the printer list). With the queue removed you can then trash the UFR2 folder, located in HD > Library > Printers > Canon. With the Trash then emptied you can run the v2.10 installer again and add the network printer queue. Note that LP is no longer required for the queue name with this latest version.

Hoping this helps you. Reply if it doesn't.

Pahu

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 31, 2010 5:40 AM in response to PAHU

Hi PAHU,

first thanks for helping me out here.
The string you were asking for is as follows:

URL: lpd://192.168.55.99/LP

Regarding the memory error, I've gotten it when I was connected to the printer via LAN. It's not practical for me to print via USB (other than for testing purpose) since the printer is located in a different room and I'll have to heave the Mac to a place near to printer. But if it reappears I will know what to do! Thanks a lot so far!!!

Greetings,
Jörg

Reply

Answer 4

Aug 31, 2010 7:39 AM in response to PAHU

Hi PAHU,

I just tried what you recommended in the 2nd paragraph of you posting (I know, this was to solve the memory problem, but I tried it anyway).
Afterwards I got this string:

URL: lpd://192.168.55.99/

I get still the -50. The funny thing is, that after the error -50 display appears on the screen, the printer starts printing the following line in courier:
"error occurred = -50". So it prints, but never more than this, which makes the use of the printer somewhat limited 🙂

What appeared strange to me is that after System Preferences > Print & Fax, Options & Supplies, under the General tab I find the Driver Version to be 2.0 although I use the UFR II V2.10

Reply

Answer 5

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Sep 1, 2010 4:57 AM in response to SteveJobsHimself

Hello Jorg,

The print queue URL is still incorrect and will stop you from printing correctly (the -50 error print is a typical result). So you need to get this resolved but I am not sure how you will achieve this. Trashing the UFR2 folder and reinstalling the v2.10 driver should have worked (and note that the v2.10 driver will show v2.0 in the Options & Supplies > General tab). Since it hasn't I suggest you try again. First, delete the existing queue/s to the MF9170 in the Print & Fax pane. Then delete the following...

HD > Library > Printers > Canon > UFR2
HD > Library > Launch Agents > jp.co.canon.UFR2.BG.plist
HD > Library > Printers > PPDs > Contents > Resources > CNTD **Z*2.ppd.gz
(Where * indicates a character string that represents the printer model and 2 indicates a character string that represents the corresponding language).

With these deleted, empty the Trash and then restart the Mac. After the restart, run the v2.10 installer again and then select to add the printer, using IP > LPD for the protocol and ensuring you select "Canon MF9100/9300 Series UFRII LT (UK)" in the Print Using menu.

Hope this works for you...

Pahu

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 1, 2010 6:46 AM in response to PAHU

Hi PAHU,

I installed, reinstalled the driver and the printer, fixed disk permissions again and again and now I have this string:

cntdbmu://MCD UFR2_LPR/_192_168_9955/lpd://192.168.99.55/

It seems that the printer is now recognized by the UFR, although, of course I still cannot print (which would really be a bit too easy...). Instead I get the following message from UFR:

+Cannot communicate with the printer, or the printer is not supported. If the printer is supported, check the printer connection and add it again. Then, if the print dialog box has a printer info button, acquire the printer information.: 10322+

So I deleted and reinstalled again with no change at all...

Reply

Answer 7

Sep 1, 2010 9:30 AM in response to PAHU

Hello PAHU,

now I feel that I got a step closer: The message with error 10322 doesn't come up anymore and UFR begins to start but stops at "Initializing..." with the spinning coloured wheel spinning eternally. When I quit UFR, I get the good old IO error with the low memory message.

Thanks again for looking into this!

Greetings,
Jörg

Reply

Answer 8

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Sep 2, 2010 1:31 AM in response to SteveJobsHimself

Hello Jorg,

Good to read you now have the queue configured correctly. I am wondering if the problem now is a machine setting. Could you print a Users Data List (Main Menu > Additional Functions > Report Settings > Print List > Users Data List > Yes) and check that the machine has the LPD service enabled. This will be located under System Settings > Network Settings > TCP/IP Settings > LPD Settings > Use LPD Print > On.

Also on this printed list (probably the last page) will be the total memory installed in the MF9170. Check that you have 512MB.

If the settings above are correct then select to print a document but change the print menu to Special Features. Here you should see an image of the copier and under that the Printer Info button. Press this. It should show 'Acquiring Information' and then display some machine settings. If this does not occur then something is blocking the communication. Do you have the internal software firewall enabled? If so, turn it off and then try the Printer Info button again. Report back how you go...

Pahu

Reply

Answer 9

Sep 2, 2010 6:57 AM in response to PAHU

Hi PAHU,

the settings you wanted me to check are the same, that I can see at the web UI of the printer, right? So I can get access to the printer via LAN by the webbrowser. All the values are in line, I too have 512 MB.

I try to print from an application and push the Printer Info button, a message appears, that the printer information is beeing gathered. Then I notice that a process "mcc" is driving one core of the CPU to 100%. After a while a window is being displayed with a hint that I should check the printer.

So there is a communication problem. My internal firewall is shut down but a have Little Snitch running. When I disable the Network Filter, nothing changes, though.

In the network monitor I can see that "mcc.app" is part of the UFR II and that it connects to the printer IP address.

Thanks,
Jörg

Reply

Answer 10

Sep 2, 2010 9:45 AM in response to PAHU

Hello PAHU,

I tried to print with my MacBook, first I got the 10322 error, and after shutting down the internal firewall and rebooting, I could print.

Then I replugged the MacPro, disabled both firewalls, uninstalled and reinstalled UFR II and the printer but I got the same error as before: "Printer is not responding" and the 10322 "Cannot communicate with the printer (...)", simultaneously the mcc.app pushed CPU usage through the roof.

After this I uninstalled LS and tried again, but same as before.

ARRGH!

Do you have an idea pray? 😉 Thanks a lot in advance,

Jörg

Reply

Answer 11

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Sep 2, 2010 8:47 PM in response to SteveJobsHimself

Hi Jorg,

Sorry to read that you still don't have this working.

Can you confirm a couple of things with regards to your previous reply.

You stated that you 'replugged' the MacPro. Can you confirm what you mean by this please. I have assumed that all Mac's were connecting directly to the MF9170 via Ethernet and therefore there would be no need to disconnect the Mac Pro.

You also state you "uninstalled LS". Can you explain what you mean by this.

One question for you. Can you confirm that the Mac Pro and the MF9170 are on the same IP subnet. I've seen firewall apps block communication in/out of the Mac that is for a different subnet.

Pahu

Reply

Answer 12

Sep 3, 2010 12:24 PM in response to PAHU

Hi Pahu,

sorry for being late with my reply but during the whole day I haven't been near a computer.

Guess I was a bit lazy in describing my situation. Sorry for this!

I have the MF9170 installed within a LAN network. All LAN cables are plugged to a central switch that serves as a gateway ("star"-like). To this switch a Linux Server is connected as well and I can print from it without any issues.

What I meant with "replugging" was, that I reconnected the LAN cable back to the MacPro. I removed it from the MacPro to check if I could print from the MacBook. I use the MacBook for work at home and just brought it to the office (where the printer is located) for testing purposes.

So, to answer your question: there is no direct connection as everything connects to the switch first.

With "LS" I meant the additional firewall called "Little Snitch".

Regarding your question about the subnet: It could very well be that the MacBook displayed a different subnet (255.255.0.0) during the time it was connected to the ethernet in the office, whereas the MacPro showed 255.255.255.0 in the TCP/IP settings, although I cannot definitely confirm this before I have re-checked it. At the time being I am not in the office and cannot try anything until Monday.

Could it be that different subnet settings block or enable a connection, eventhough no firewall is installed?

I thought that probably a process of the firewall might still be active despite the regularly performed uninstallation with the uninstaller. To check this, I ran a test using the printer IP: I checked everything that the Network Utility App (the one with the amber radar screen) let me. I saved the reports but they're in the office 😟
I can post them here on Monday but I haven't seen anything unusual.

If you need further information about any printer settings, I can provide these as I have access to the printer via the Linux server.

Have a nice weekend and big thanks to you!
Jörg

Reply

Answer 13

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Sep 4, 2010 11:53 PM in response to SteveJobsHimself

Hello Jorg,

Thanks for the detailed information. That clears up things for me and it tells me that you do have a direct connection - in that the Mac connects directly to the MF via Ethernet with only the switch in between - which is fine.

Regarding the subnet, what you have shown is the subnet mask and this determines the subnet. A subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 means that the first three sets of numbers in the IP address is the subnet and the last number is the network address. For a mask of 255.255.0.0, only the first two sets of numbers are the IP subnet while the last two are the network address.

For example, an IP address of 192.168.0.10 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 means that the subnet is 192.168.0 while the network address is 10. Without a gateway/router, all devices need to be on the same subnet if they are to communicate with each other. That said, since you are able to connect to the internal web page of the MF, this would indicate that your MacPro and the MF are on the same subnet - which should be the case if you are using DHCP.

But what you may have is some sort of blocking from the switch or Little Snitch that is stopping the non-standard port used by the bidirectional communication - although since the Linux server is working then this would rule out the switch. Note that the standard ports of 80 for web pages and 515 for the LPD port are usually open by default, hence those items are working, but the comms by the UFR2 driver are usually non-standard, like 47545 for the bigger imageRUNNER devices. I will need to check what port the UFR2 communicates on tomorrow and reply. This could be the cause. If the machine supported some other printer language then we could at least try one of the Generic drivers - like PCL. But looking at Canon specs it shows that the model is UFRII only so we have no alternative we can try.

Can you confirm that the Linux server is using the UFR2 driver and if you are using the 'cngplp' command to print from the server. Can you also reassure me that you are not connecting to the Linux server from the Mac, but entering the IP address of the printer for the LPD queue.

Pahu

Reply

Answer 14

Sep 5, 2010 1:19 PM in response to PAHU

Hi PAHU,

thanks a lot for taking the time to clarify the subnet issue and to write such a detailed answer! Even now, I owe you one!!

In fact, the Linux server uses the UFR II driver V1.9 and is printing via CUPS. Unfortunately I cannot comment on 'cngplp'. Do you know where I can check this?

I can confirm that I connect from the MacPro to the printer directly by entering the printer's IP and using the LPD queue when setting up the printer in the settings menu of MacOS.

I already ran a portscan of the printer-IP, so we can compare this to your findings about the communicating UFR II ports.

Thanks for all the time you took to help me!

Greetings,
Jörg

Reply

Answer 15

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Sep 6, 2010 12:58 AM in response to SteveJobsHimself

Hello Jorg,

Thank you for confirming your setup. I cannot understand why you cannot print so I am looking for any clue as to the cause and I know this UFR driver does not work when you are connecting via a shared queue - even a Mac OS X server.

With regards to UFRII on Linux, the 'cngplp' command is for printing from Terminal. It is also used for configuring and selecting finishing options. Your answer would indicate that you are simply using the GUI to print so that is fine. Just trying to get a better idea of your setup.

Okay, I did a port scan on a controlled network (Mac to Netgear switch to Canon MF series) for when the Printer Info selection is performed and got the following.

6/09/10, 5:28:12PM Source=172.17.7.40 > Canon=172.17.7.24 TCP Source=51248 Destination=47546
6/09/10, 5:28:12PM Source=172.17.7.40 > Canon=172.17.7.24 TCP Source=51249 Destination=515

Looks like the UFRII LT driver uses a similar port number for the MF series as it does for the bigger imageRUNNER (47546 vs 47545). The 515 is the LPD port which as you know is used as the protocol for the Mac UFRII queue. It looks like there is some data on the LPD port, probably for checking the availability of the printer, before the printer status is obtained via port 47546.

So do you see a similar result with your port scan?

Pahu

Reply