Infrastructure Mode is the most common wireless network environment. This mode offers the fastest wireless data transfers and allows multiple secure wireless connections. Click here for a graphical representation.

This article aims to provide you with a basic understanding of the concepts and critical values required for successful installation and setup of the Z4550  in an infrastructure wireless environment.
Common terms and associations:
Wireless Router: Access Point (AP)
SSID (= Service Set Identifier): network name
BSS (= Basic Service Set) Type: ad hoc or infrastructure
Security Type: WEP, WPA, WPA2
Security Key: network key, passphrase, password 
See the Wireless Glossary for an explanation of these terms.

Obtain the settings enumerated in the steps below.
Step 1. Wireless router/access point (AP) settings. 
Click here for instructions on how to access your AP web page to obtain WEP, WPA, or WPA2 settings. NOTE: This document serves as an example only; refer to your router's web page or user's guide for further information.
First make sure that the access point or wireless radio is turned ON or ENABLED. Click here for an illustration.

AP Setting	Sample Value
SSID (Service Set Identifier). NOTE:   Every Wi-Fi device has a default SSID value; however, it is highly recommended that you change the default SSID name to a unique value to differentiate your AP from other APs in your area.	macdaddy3
Security Type (Authentication Type)	WPA - PSK
Channel	6 NOTE: Knowing the channel can be important, as you will see in step 12a.
Password, passphrase, security key or network key Security key rules WEP security keys •Exactly 10 or 26 hexadecimal characters. (Hexadecimal characters are A–F and 0–9.) • Exactly 5 or 13 ASCII characters. (ASCII characters are letters, numbers, and symbols found on a keyboard.) WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK security key • Up to 64 hexadecimal characters. (Hexadecimal characters are A–F and 0–9.) • Between 8 and 64 ASCII characters. (ASCII characters are letters, numbers, and symbols found on a keyboard.)	Hookooekoo2006 IMPORTANT! Security keys are case-sensitive. Improper entry of lower- or upper-case letters will result in configuration failure.

Advanced security features

IMPORTANT! These AP features, if not set correctly, will cause configuration failure:

MAC Filtering - Verify that this is OFF, or create an exception using the printer's UAA (=MAC) address. 
DHCP enable -  Verify that this is ON.
Broadcast SSID - Verify that this is ON.
AP Firewall - Verify that this is OFF.

• • Refer to your wireless router/access point documentation for further assistance. 


• • The naming convention of these features may vary. Again, refer to your wireless router/access point documentation.


• • French Telecom (Darty, Free, Alice, N9UF) box owners: click here for special instructions.

IMPORTANT! Software firewalls are the leading cause of configuration failure and, frequently, communication failure after installation. Select grant always pertaining to permissions or an equivalent message from the software firewall manufacturer. Click here for related articles on firewall issues. 
Step 2. Make sure your host computer is communicating with the network and the router.
Step 3. Print a network settings page. Click here for instructions. 
Although not necessary for first-time setup, if your listed default values are different from those in the table below, you may want to carry out the following checks:

• • Check the Wi-Fi indicator light. It should be   (orange solid) after Step 6 for first-time setup.


• • If the software is already installed on the computer and the Wi-Fi indicator is blinking orange, run the Wireless Setup Utility. See 'Related Articles' below. 


• • If the Wi-Fi indicator light is in another state, click here for an article describing Wi-Fi indicator light possibilities and Printer Status. 


• • If a gateway exists, ping the gateway. NOTE: The gateway value is often the IP address of the wireless router or access point. See 'Related Articles'.


• • Perform an ipconfig  procedure on your host computer to see if the printer and computer netmask and gateway values match. See 'Related Articles'.
   

 

Network Settings Page Value	Default Values
TCP/IP Active	ON
Enable DHCP	ON
Address Source	Manual • (DHCP- Would indicate that the device was previously configured) • (Auto IP- Would indicate that the device attempted to obtain an IP address but the wireless router acting as DHCP server failed to assign or send  the printer an address, leading to a 169.254.#.# address with a 255.255.0.0 netmask.
BSS Type	Ad hoc (this will change to Infrastructure by the end of the procedure)
SSID (network name)	Print Server 02CD60
UAA - MAC address	00200002CD60 (printer-unique) Notice that the SSID uses the ending values of the MAC address. (The UAA/MAC address is also located on the back of the printer.) NOTE: This six-digit alphanumeric value becomes part of the port name and helps to identify the correct port to capture should the need arise.
IP parameters (address, netmask and gateway).	• address - 0.0.0.0 • netmask - 255.255.255.0 • gateway - 0.0.0.0 If your settings do not match the above and you are sure the printer has never been installed on your computer, click here for instructions on resetting the printer's network settings.

 Infrastructure Mode installation:  WPA - PSK security using the Sample Values in the table above.

Step	Action	Illustration (Click on Images below for the Illustration.)
1	Insert the installation CD into the drive.
2	Welcome... =, select Install.
3	Accept the License Agreement, and click Continue.
4	Install Type will appear. Select Typical and click Continue. If you would like to change your target install directory, select Custom.
5	Setting up a new printer? will appear. Select Yes, I am setting up this printer for the first time, and click Continue. NOTE: If the printer has previously been configured on another machine, select NO, My computer is already set up. I am installing it on another computer.	...
6	Perform the following unpacking and printer preparation steps, clicking Continue after each step: Unpack the printer. Remove all tape and packing materials from the printer. Raise the operator panel. Raise the paper support. Extend the paper exit tray. Load paper and adjust the guide. Connect the power cord and check insertion of the power supply (brick).  Connect the power cord supply and wall outlet. Make sure the power is ON. Set the language,if needed. Set the country, if needed. Raise the scanner unit. Press down on the blue cartridge lever. Remove the tape from the cartridges. Insert the cartridges. Press the spring-loaded cartridge covers down until they snap into the blue cartridge levers. Close the unit (cover). Press to print the alignment page.
7	Check the Wi-Fi indicator...  It should be orange for first-time installations. Other possibilities include: • No light - This would indicate that the printer is turned OFF, that the device is in power saver mode, or a possible hardware failure. • A green light - This would suggest that this printer has already been configured and is communicating with some access point.  Select this if installing  software on additional computers. HELP: For an extensive list of status possibilities and troubleshooting tips, .
8	Printer Connection... How do you want to connect your printer? Select Wireless Connection, and click Continue.
9	Connect the installation cable between PC and printer.
10	A site survey for other wireless devices will now take place. NOTE: Only local subnets or network segments will be searched.
11	Choose a Network will appear. If you AP network name (SSID) is present under Connect to..., select it and click Continue, or see Step 11a (optional Step 11).
11a	OPTIONAL STEP 11: The following conditions may require you to select Connect to another network and click Continue: • You never configured your access point (AP) with a unique SSID value and you reside in a congested area, • You reside in an area of heavy network traffic, • The AP you are trying to connect to is not currently available, • The AP is on a different network segment. • You have low or unstable connectivity with the AP.  for more information regarding signal strength, making sure your computer can access the Internet. See 'Related Articles' for other tips. After you select Connect to another network, a list of all available wireless networks/devices will display. Possible Scenarios:  Multiple SSIDs with the same name. Actions - If you are very close to the AP, select the name(SSID) with the highest signal strength. NOTE: Success is not guaranteed in congested areas. A neighboring AP may be closer to your workstation and printer than your AP.    - Select manually enter network information, and enter your AP (wireless router) SSID, and channel. Refer to 'Before you begin - Step 1' above. Your AP SSID is not listed. Actions - Check communication with the wireless router by verifying that the host computer is communicating wirelessly with the AP. This requires checking the wireless connection notification icon in the notification area ('systray') of the task bar. - Make sure Broadcast(ing) SSID is turned ON. See 'Advanced security features' above. If you find this setting turned OFF,and you turn it ON, you can optionally click Back a couple of times to rescan the network. Otherwise, manual entry is your best option.  - Select manually enter network information and obtain and enter the following AP values: SSID, Channel, and Security Key. Refer to 'Before you begin - Step 1' above. Your AP is out of range or is experiencing interference. Action - Move the devices closer to each other, and click Back a couple of times to rescan the network for your network (name). - Adjust the antennas, or consider the purchase of height-gain antennas, or attempt to change channels by accessing your router (AP) web page. - Verify that there is an orange Wi-Fi indicator light on the printer. The AP you are trying to connect with is on another part of the network or is currently not active.  Action - Select manually enter network information and obtain and enter the following AP values: SSID, Channel, and Security Key. Refer to 'Before you begin - Step 1' above for more information.	of manual entry screen.
12	After you click Continue in step 11, Network Security Information will appear. Enter the Security network key, and click Continue. IMPORTANT! This is a case-sensitive value (i.e., Hookooekoo2006, not hookooekoo2006). Failure to enter the security key correctly will result in a -----message. Try to re-enter the value.
13	Please Wait "Your printer is connecting to your network..." message.
14	Remove the installation cable.
15	Connection Successful, Your printer has successfully connected to your wireless network. Click Continue. A green Wi-Fi light indicator should not be present on the printer.
16	Identify This Computer... This is the 'Scan-to-PC name', i.e., the name selected from the front user interface/LCD to scan a file back to the PC. The optional security PIN serves to prevent unauthorized access/scans to your PC.
17	Final configuration takes place with this message: Please Wait preparing your printer.
18	Print a sample page, and click Continue.
19	Product Registration Select whether or not to Register the product and take part in the Lexmark Connect Program, and click Next.
20	Select the toolbar,and click Continue.
21	Congratulations, click Finish.

 

• • Wireless Glossary
• • Wi-Fi indicator light status 
• • How to ping addresses
• • How to perform IPCONFIG
• • How to access the command prompt in Vista
• • How to access the printer's web page
• • How to perform a reset of network settings
• • Troubleshooting possible network issues
• • How to reconfigure the printer using the Wireless Setup Utility 

If you need additional assistance, please contact Lexmark Technical Support. NOTE: When calling for support, you will be asked for your machine/model type and serial number (SN).
Please call from near a computer and printer in case the technician on the phone asks you to perform a task involving one or all of these devices.