FIXED IP Address Operation

Fixed IP addressing is generally used in small networks and networks that are stable (PCs and peripherals generally
fixed). In order for the PC to communicate with the printer Ethernet adapter the devices must be on the same subnet.
(See IP addresses and Subnetting at the end of this document.)
The subnet of the printer Ethernet adapter must be on the same subnet.
Examples of matching subnets
PC
192.168.1.100
Printer 192.168.1.1
PC
192.168.100.20
Printer 192.168.100.10
Examples of non-matching subnets
PC
192.168.10.100
Printer 192.168.1.1
PC
192.168.100.10
Printer 192.100.100.10
Method for determining PC and printer IP address
The current IP address of the printer Ethernet adapter can be determined by printing a F0 ticket or printing a splash ticket.
Both tickets print the current printer IP address.
The current PC IP address can be verified by using the command prompt tool ipconfig.
Ipconfig /all

Method for setting PC IP address

Set the desired PC IP address via the control panel. The exact method and display will vary with operating system and
setup. An example from Windows XP:

When the PC and printer are on the same subnet the printer may be pinged via the command prompt ping command.
In this example:
PC
192.168.1.100
Printer 192.168.1.1 (printer Ethernet default address)

Procedure for changing printer Ethernet IP address from another subnet to the desired subnet:
It may be necessary to change the printer Ethernet IP address in order to match the subnet of the PC.
1 Temporarily change the IP address of the PC to that of the printer via the control panel method.
2 Verify that connectivity with the printer using the command prompt ping command.
3 Change the address of the printer Ethernet port:
3.1 Telnet
Example: telnet [printer IP address] 9999
In the change setup: menu select 0 (Server)
3.2 Browser
The printer Ethernet adapter contains a Web Server program that can be used to change network settings.
Using a browser such as IE connect to the printer Ethernet adapter using the devices IP address.
Select Network and change IP address.
3.3 PA network tool
Using the PA network change printer Ethernet adapter IP address. The PA network test tool can be download from the
Practical Automation website.
4 Change the IP address of the PC to the desired IP address via the control panel method.
5 Verify connectivity using the command prompt ping function described above.

DHCP Operation
The networking DHCP process can be used to assign IP addresses to device connected to the network. This process is
very useful in environments where there are a relatively large number of devices making the clerical process of managing
IP addresses a burden. In the large majority of cases a physically separate server (such as a Windows 2003 or Windows
2008 server) is employed to assign IP addresses and to maintain DHCP names.
The logging of names associated with IP addresses is managed by the DNS (Domain Name Server). These processes
must be operating correctly for the entire system to operate properly.
The Practical Automation Ethernet adapter can be configured for DHCP operation. (LB-II only).
Additionally the device may be assigned a DHCP name (1 to 16 characters) to aid in its access.
Note that the DHCP name when not set will default to C112233 where 11 22 33 are the last three digits of the Ethernet
adapter MAC address.
Example (DHCP name not set) C8fafbe
The Ethernet adapter is set to DHCP mode via the printer parameter setting function. The IP address function will appear
in the first group of settable parameters. (Intensity, Cutter mode etc.). Set the last IP address parameter to
IP Address:DHCP
If the system DHCP process is operating correctly the DHCP server will assign an IP address to the Ethernet adapter as
well as recovery the Ethernet adapters DHCP name.
To verify that the DHCP\DNS server system is operating properly collect network information via the command prompt
utility ipconfig. Invoke with the argument /all to display all system information.
Example:

C:\>ipconfing /all

Example of Network parameters, DHCP enabled and successful connection (Win XP)
Note the IP address of the DHCP server and the DNS server(s).
Note that Vista and Win 7 may display additional information to what is shown in the following examples.

Example of Network parameters, DHCP enabled and DHCP fails.

Note that Autoconfiguration (enabled) assigned an IP address of 169.254.4.2 internally to this PC. This configuration is
NOT compatible with the Practical Automation Ethernet adapter. Notice that a DHCP server is NOT listed.

Identifying DHCP assigned DHCP address.

The DHCP address can be determined by:
1 Printing IP address on ticket.
Put the printer off-line via the F0 switch. Note that the ready light will blink for several seconds while the process recovers
the DHCP assigned IP address.
Print a test ticket via the F1 switch. The IP address and TCP\IP port number will print on the splash ticket.
2 Using an IP address scanner
An IP address scanner such as Angry Scanner can be used to scan the relevant subnet.
The result will display the IP address and DHCP name of the Ethernet adapter.
DHCP name
Network access of the Ethernet adapter can be via the assigned IP address or the Ethernet adapter DHCP name.
Note if the DHCP name has not been set access is possible via the default DHCP name
The DHCP default name is C112233 where 11 22 33 are the last three digits of the Ethernet adapter MAC address.
Example (DHCP name has not been set) C8fafbe.
To discover the DHCP name (and change if necessary):
1 Telnet
Example: telnet [printer IP address] 9999
In the change setup: menu select 0 (Server)
2 Browser
Using a browser such as IE connect to the Ethernet adapter using the devices IP address.
Select Network and change DHCP name. The DHCP name field will be blank if not set.
3 IP Scanner
(Discover name only)
The DHCP name (default or changed) can be used to reference the Ethernet adapter.
This method is preferred to the use of the IPaddress as the IP address CAN change in a DHCP
environment.

DHCP name change reminder!

Note that the system needs to be refreshed if there is a DHCP name
change. This is due to the fact that system caches IP and name relationships.
After changing the DHCP name:
- Either reboot the PC or flush the DNS cache (using ipconfig /flushdns)
- Recycle printer power.

IP Addresses and Subnetting Discussion

To understand why PC to Ethernet adapter communication is failing and how to resolve this issue, you must
have some general knowledge of TCP/IP and subnetting.
IP addresses are separated into network classes. Network classes are also known as subnet classes. The letters
A, B and C denote the subnet/network classes. An IP address is made up of four octets, each separated by a
decimal point, as shown below:
AAA.BBB.CCC.DDD
As = First Octet
Bs = Second Octet
Cs = Third Octet
Ds = Fourth Octet
To check your PCs current IP configuration on Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7:
1. Click Start --> Run.
2. At the Open prompt, type cmd. A command window opens.
3. At the command window, type ipconfig. Your Windows TCP/IP configuration displays. Note that
Windows 2000, XP will display IP address while Vista and Windows 7 will display Ipv4 address.

Class C Networks and Addresses

Class C networks use a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. This subnet mask indicates the first, second and third
octet in each IP address on the network must be the same. This allows network devices to communicate on the
LAN.
If your PC is on a class C network (meaning it is using a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0), the first, second and
third octets of your PCs IP address and the first, second, and third octets of the IP address you are assigning to
the Ethernet adapter must be the same numbers.
Class C Example
A PC is configured with the IP and subnet mask below:
192.168.12.155 IP Address

255.255.255.0 Subnet Mask

To successfully assign an IP address to the Ethernet adapter, the IP assigned must be:
192.168.12.xxx
where the Xs are an available IP address on the network.

Class B Networks and Addresses

Class B networks use a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. This subnet mask indicates the first and second octet in
each IP address on the network must be the same. This allows network devices to communicate on the LAN.
If your PC is on a class B network (meaning its using a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0), the first and second octets
of your PCs IP address and the first and second octet of the IP address you are assigning to the Ethernet adapter
must be the same numbers.
Class B Example
A PC is configured with the IP and subnet mask below:
172.16.224.55 IP Address
255.255.0.0 Subnet Mask
To successfully assign an IP address to the Ethernet adapter, the IP assigned must be:
172.16.xxx.xxx
where the xs are an available IP address on the network.

Class A Subnets and Addresses

Class A networks use a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0. This subnet mask indicates that the first octet in each IP
address on the network must be the same number. This allows network devices to communicate on the Local
Area Network (LAN).
If your PC is on a class A network (meaning its using a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0), the first octet of your PCs
IP address and the first octet of the IP Address you are assigning to the Ethernet adapter must be the same
number.
Class A Example
A PC is configured with the IP and subnet mask below:
10.100.110.120 IP Address
255.0.0.0 Subnet Mask
the Ethernet adapter device must be assigned an IP that is:

10.xxx.xxx.xxx
where the xs are an available IP address on the network,

DHCP and Auto IP Addresses

A network setup may include DHCP server methodology. This means that a process called a DHCP server
assigns IP addresses to PCs and other devices on the network. It is also possible for a PC to be configured to use
the Auto IP Address function to obtain an IP address. If Windows does not obtain an IP address, it defaults to an
Auto-Configuration IP Address. To check the IP address of a PC in Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7:
Click Start and select Run.
1. At the Open prompt, type cmd. A command window opens.
2. At the command window, type ipconfig. Your Windows TCP/IP configuration displays. Note that
Windows 2000 and XP will display IP address while Vista and Windows 7 will display Ipv4 address.
If your PC is using an Auto-Configuration IP address or if configured for DHCP (and the DHCP server process
fails) the PC will have an IP address like 169.254.XXX.XXX, where the Xs are randomly chosen numbers.
Notice that the first two octets of the IP address are 169.254, indicating an Auto-Configuration IP address. This
assignment is NOT compatible with the Ethernet adapter.
To resolve this issue, either determine why the DHCP server is not assigning IP addresses or configure your PC
with a static IP address. For more information on configuring a static IP address in Windows, see the Windows
help files. You can access the Windows help files by clicking the Windows Start button and selecting Help.
Search in Windows help for static IP addresses.