Bonjour printer not detected, LPD fails to connect

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Bonjour printer not detected, LPD fails to connect

Hi all

Trying to find a solution to my printing issues, which have taken many forms over the years. The current frustrating gremlin:

Macbook Air, OS X 10.6.8, Lexmark E250D laser, printer driver built in to Mac OS, driver .dmg also downloaded and installed from Lexmark

Wireless home network on NETGEAR router with extension to Airport Express. Lexmark E250D laser attached to USB on the Airport Express. Cannot add printer via the default pathway, the Bonjour system finds the printer correctly for about 5 seconds after the printer is plugged in to the AE USB port then it simply disappears off the window never to return. Airport Utility cannot find the AE which I recently reset and set up without problem. The AE light is green.

Via Network Preferences I find the IP of the AE and try to set up LPD printing. This successfully finds the Lexmark, calls it a Generic Postscrpipt until I select the Lexmark driver from the OS X list. It seems to correctly identify printer features such as in built memory and duplex printing.

Sending a file to the printer results in the warning that the IP address is busy.

In the past I simply connected by USB cable to the printer, but since a recent move the house/ office layout makes that very inconvenient. I have to go outside and downstairs to the office which has no internal access from the main part of the house.

I'd really like to print wirelessly and share on the home network to other users.

Thanks in advance

MacBook Air (13-inch Late 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 8:39 PM

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Answer 1

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Apr 18, 2012 12:32 AM in response to anthonyje

With regards to the use of LPD for the print queue, I've not seen documentation that shows this is supported by the AExp. It could be that it is, but given that it errors with the "address is busy" mesage, this is typical of a response you would get when selecting a protocol that is not supported. Also, the Lexmark printer driver could be adding to the symptom.

So I would try creating a new queue, this time selecting HP Jetdirect-Socket for the protocol and leaving the driver at Generic Postscript.

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Answer 2

anthonyje Author

Level 1

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Apr 20, 2012 6:45 PM in response to anthonyje

I was able to force the Bonjour system to see the printer by turning the printer off then on while Bonjour was looking to add a new printer. Unfortunately this printer was not automatically seen after I took the laptop off the wireless network to go to work, then put it back on, but the Off/ On strategy put it back simply. Not ideal but ok. I presume I'll need to do this each session at home.

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