How to Reconfigure Your Replacement Inkjet Printer in an Apple Macintosh Wireless Network Environment

Document ID:HO3610
 
03/20/13 Properties  

Problem

Orange flashing light; Printer reset to factory defaults; New; Replacement; Exchange; Unable to reconfigure; Cannot rejoin network; Solid orange light; New modem; New ISP; Changed internet service providers; ISP; New router; Printer no longer communicating; Use Wireless setup utility; Set up print server; Reconnect network adapter;

Solution

Overview


Your printer may need to re-establish network communication using one of below utilities if: 

  • You received a replacement printer.
  • You replaced your router or access point.
  • You performed a complete reset of your router or access point.
  • You changed your router's network name or security passphrase.
  • You are moving the printer to a new network that uses a different network name and security passphrase.
  • You have reset the printer back to the factory defaults; for example, the printer's Network Setting page shows a Status of NOT CONNECTED, and the IP and gateway address shows all zeros.
  • You have exhausted all efforts to eliminate a  Wi-Fi indicator light.
  • You have a Wi-Fi indicator light; for example, you have decided to switch from a USB connection to a wireless network connection.

NOTE: For Microsoft Windows Users, click here.

 

Before you begin

 
IMPORTANT! Ensure that the printer is already set up and you are able to print a test page or make a copy.

If you are uncertain of your wireless network configuration settings, see Printer/Network Configuration Requirements below.

 

Configuration Utilities


The Lexmark Wireless Setup Assistant is used to reconfigure your wireless inkjet printer. 

 

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Printer/Network Configuration Requirements


IMPORTANT! Lexmark is not responsible for these settings. Please consult the person responsible for setting up your wireless network, the router's documentation, or the router's technical support resources for additional assistance.

Step Action
1

Make sure you have the following required settings:

  • Network name (SSID)
  • Security Mode/Type (WEP, WPA, WPA2) Note: WPA2 is highly recommended.
  • Security key or passphrase or password. Important! This value is sensitive to capitalization, spaces, symbols and spelling. Improper entry of this value will lead to configuration failure.
  • Optional: Radio channel (1–14) may help differentiate between multiple networks of the same name.
2

If you are unfamiliar with any of the settings above, click here for a reference example, or check your AirPort Utility for these settings.  

Comments and warnings:

  • You will need your configured Username and Password to open your router's web configuration page.
  • Or, you will need the router manufacturer's default Username and Password to open your router's web configuration page.
  • If any setting values have been forgotten, you will have to perform a complete reset of the router (AirPort). Important! Please consult the person responsible for setting up your wireless network, the router's documentation, or the router's technical support resources before performing any reset procedure.
  • If a complete reset of the router (AirPort) is performed, you will need to reconfigure all settings mentioned above.
  • You will have to reconfigure your wireless MAC or PC clients to rejoin your wireless network.
  • You will have to reconfigure the printer to rejoin your wireless network.
3
Make sure the host computer from which you are performing this procedure is communicating with the access point or router.
 

 

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Procedure: Reconfiguration using the Lexmark Wireless Setup Assistant

 

Step Action Click Image to Enlarge
1

Locate the Lexmark Wireless Setup Assistant (WSA).

Locations: 

  • Inside the Lexmark <Model> Series installation folder found at the Desktop, or
  • Follow the directory path > HD Volume > /Library/Printers/Lexmark/2009 folder (See Image 1), or
  • For newer Mac OS X versions; i.e., Mac 10.6.8 and later Mac OS., a separate WSA package needs to be downloaded, extracted, and then follow the directory path > HD Volume > Applications > Lexmark Folder > Wireless Setup Assistant. (See Image 2) 

Note: Location may vary per printer model.

Image 1

Image 2
2 Click Continue at the Welcome screen. 
3

Connect the USB configuration cable, and then click Continue. It is recommended to use the USB cable that came with your printer.

Note: The Continue button will not be available until a successful USB connection has been established. Consider a different cable or USB port on your computer.
4 Click Continue again, but make sure to not to disconnect the USB cable at any point during the configuration procedure.
5

Join a Network Critical Step!

  • Click Yes only if your network's name* appears in "quotations", and then click Continue.
  • Click No if your network's name does not appear in "quotations", and then click Continue.

Note: Failure to not set a unique network name on you router may result in the selection of a neighboring network. This is especially prevalent in congested areas with multiple competing routers(networks).

Important! Avoid the use of default router network names (SSIDs).  This is one of the more common forms of configuration failures. A false positive configuration may result when your printer joins your neighbor's network.

*Service Set Identifier
6

If No is selected, the following events take place. Click Continue after you have selected the proper network name.

  • The printer performs a search for All available networks
  • The printer sends the search results back to the computer
  • The WSA utility now displays all discovered networks
 \

Alternative Option

An alternative option Other Wireless Networks is available.

Important! Only consider this option if:

  • Pre-configuring the printer for a different network, or
  • You are seeing multiple identical network names.
This allows you to manually select or enter the following:
  • Network Name – Remember! spelling, capitalization, spaces, and symbols.
  • Security Type – None, WEP, WPA (2) Personal
  • Security key or passphrase as specified or configured on your wireless router. Remember! spelling, capitalization, spaces, and symbols.

7

Enter your router's (network) key or passphrase. Again, remember the entry of this value has to have exact spelling and capitalization. Also, remember additional spaces or symbols in the passphrase.

Note: Older versions of this configuration utility do not automatically select the security type.

8

If prompted, enter your Apple administrator's security password, and then click OK.

Note: Lexmark is not responsible for this password.
9

Configuring your printer will be displayed.

What takes place?

  • Security credentials are negotiated between utility, printer, and your secured wireless network.
  • Upon successful authentication, these wireless configuration settings are saved to the printer's wireless network adapter.
  • A network port is recreated for your printer. 
10

Three events follow if the printer successfully joins the network:

  1. You will be asked to disconnect the USB configuration cable.
  2. A  green Wi-Fi indicator light appears on the printer.
  3. A  Network Settings Page prints to display "Connected" with an IP address, a hardware MAC** address, and many other valuable settings.

** – Media Access Control address is very essential to identifying the correct network printer port.
11

Open System Preferences, and then click on Print and Fax.

Note: For newer Mac OS X versions, click on Print and Scan.
12

Verify the correct default printer with the proper MAC address. Again, reference the UAA(MAC) value on Network Settings page.

Optional location for MAC Address: This value is also located on the back of the printer. For newer printer models, the MAC address will no longer reflect on the printer name.

Note: Press Control + click to select Set Default Printer. Two-button mouse users only need to right-click to select Set Default Printer.

Tip! See related articles below.
13

To test the printer:

  • Open the Print Queue.
  • Open the Printer Utility.
  • Click on Print Test Page.

IMPORTANT! The Wireless Setup Assistant  process shown above is only an example. Steps may slightly vary per printer model and also depends on the Mac OS X version in use.

 

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Related Articles


How to Manually Add a USB Print Queue, Network Print Queue and Fax Queue on Mac OS X 10.6 - 10.8 Systems
How to Manually Add a USB Print Queue on Mac OS X Systems
Installation on Mac OS X: Adding a Print Queue for the Lexmark S800 Series Printer

 

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Still Need Help?

 
Please contact Lexmark Technical Support if you need additional assistance. NOTE: When calling for support, you will need to know your printer model type and serial number (SN).

Please call from near the printer, wireless router and computer in case the technician asks you to perform a task involving one of these devices.   

 



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