First Time Wireless Configuration and Installation of the Lexmark All-In-One Inkjet Printer in a Macintosh OS X Environment

Document ID:HO3306
 
  Properties  

Problem

Cannot configure; Cannot setup; Cannot install; Installation failure; Unsuccessful installation; Infrastructure; Configure; Mac OS 10.4.x; 10.5.x; 10.6.x; 10.7.x; 10.8.x;

Solution

Overview


This article outlines the steps for installing wireless-capable inkjet printers in a Macintosh OS X environment with the use of an AirPort Extreme Base Station, Access Point (AP), or wireless router. 

NOTE: Wireless-capable printers have this symbol  on the right, front side area, or on the control panel. Location may differ per model, see your printer's User's Guide. Click here to view how to obtain your printer's User's Guide.

This article will cover the following topics:

Before you begin
AirPort vs third-party routers
Installation walk-thru Example
Related Articles

 

Before you begin


Confirm the following values/statements before you start the installation:

NOTE: It is recommended you familiarize yourself with the following settings and concepts before you begin the procedure.

  • Network Name or Service Set Identifier (SSID) 


NOTE: Spelling, capitalization, spaces, and symbols are important.

  • Security Type – None, WEP, WPA, and WPA2 Personal 

NOTE: System Profiler may help determine this value. Check the value under the Network section of System Profiler. Otherwise, access the AirPort Utility or router's web page for this value.     
  • Network Key or Passphrase

NOTE: Spelling, capitalization, spaces, and symbols are important. See the router documentation on how to obtain this value, and consult the person who set up your network, or consider a complete reset and reconfiguration of the router and your wireless network if necessary. Lexmark is not responsible for your network security settings.   

 

Communication Verification

Confirm network communication with other wireless clients or devices, functional internet access, and router web page access.  

NOTE: See the router manufacturer documentation for information about accessing the router web page; access requires an IP address, user name, and password.    

 

Network Topology

Is your Macintosh hard-wired (e.g., ethernet cable) into the router? Or is it wireless? Make sure other wireless client devices can communicate on the network. 

 

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

You will not need a security passphrase if you are configuring the printer using the printer/router's Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Push Button Control method. However, you should still be familiar with the SSID to avoid accidental connection to the other WPS-equipped routers in the neighborhood.

NOTE: Click here to view the steps on how to rejoin your Inkjet Printer to a wireless network using WPS.

 

AirPort vs Other router (AP) Settings


NOTE: Although settings terminology differs between router vendors, the functionality is identical.

Apple AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express  Other Vendors Default, required, or recommended settings
AirPort Base Station Wireless Router or Access Point Observation
AirPort ID or Network Name Network Name, or SSID The default AirPort Network Name is 'AirPortXXXXXX', where XXXXXX is the last six digits of the AirPort MAC address located on the back or bottom of the device.

Other Vendors – See router documentation.

Recommended Setting – Something other than the default setting. 

EFFECT – Not having a unique network name may cause the Lexmark Wireless Setup Assistant to find multiple default base station/router SSIDs of the same name.
Closed Network Broadcast SSID or Visibility Status This setting should be ON or not set to a closed network.  See AirPort or router documentation.

EFFECT – The Lexmark Wireless Setup Assistant will not be able to locate the base station or router's network name or SSID. 

OPTION – Manual entry of SSID and security key or passphrase.    
MAC Address Access Control MAC Filtering This setting should be turned OFF. See AirPort or router documentation.

EFFECT – The Lexmark Wireless Setup Assistant may see your network's network name; however, the printer's MAC hardware address will be blocked by the base station or router.

OPTION – The printer MAC address  can be entered in to the base station or wireless router's exceptions/inclusion list before the installation is restarted. 
NAT Firewall Firewall This should be OFF. See AirPort or router documentation.

EFFECT – Firewalls block both software processes and the ports required by those processes.

OPTION(S):
  • Turn the router's firewall OFF.
     
  • Turn OFF other third-party and operating system software firewalls to see if that is causing the communication/configuration failure.
     
  • Contact the firewall manufacturer or see the router documentation for instructions on how to make blocked Lexmark processes/ports permanent exceptions/inclusions. See also Related Articles.
Transmitter Power Control Transmission Rate Max power is recommended unless you are in congested areas with multiple competing devices.    
Radio Mode 802.11 Mode Required settings include:
  • AirPort – 802.11n (802b/g Compatible)
     
  • Other Vendors – Mixed 802.11n,802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, N only

Recommended Setting – Mixed 802.11b/g depending on router support.

 

Procedure: Macintosh OS X v10. 4, 5, 6, 7,8 Installation 


The following table provides a step-by-step account of a successful Lexmark Pro 905 installation:

Step Action Click Image to Enlarge
1
Insert the CD.
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2

Double-click on Lexmark (model) Series Installer .
 

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3 Double-click on Install.
4

 
  1. Click Continue to allow for a hardware and software compliancy check.
     
  2. Click Continue to view the Read Me file.
     
  3. Click Continue to view the License agreement.
     
  4. Click Continue.
     
  5. Click Agree to the Software License Agreement to proceed, or Disagree to cancel the installation.

5
  • The Installation Type window now appears; click Install,
    or
     
  • click Change Install Location to display Select a Destination.  Click on the correct OS X  Volume, and then click Continue.

    Note: This software will only install to an active OS X volume. 
OS X.4 Tiger Users

Select a Destination will appear first, followed by Installation Type.  Accordingly, click Continue and then Upgrade.  
6

"Welcome to the Lexmark (Model) Series Setup Assistant"  
Select first-time installation or installing on another computer, and then click Continue. 

Important! No USB configuration cable is needed after successful installation on the first computer.   

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7

If prompted, enter your administrator's Password, and then click OK.

Note: You may see this prompt more than once during the installation process. 
8

Hardware Setup will now walk you through printer preparation.  Click Skip Hardware Setup and press Continue, or follow the steps below:

Note: Preparation steps vary by printer or All-In-One model.

  1. Unpack printer.
  2. Remove all tape and packing materials.
  3. Install appropriate language control panel if necessary.

For 2009 Printers Note: Open printer and remove packaged print head, and then close printer.

  1. Pull the paper tray completely out of the printer.
  2. Move the paper guides to the sides. 

Note: For A4 or Legal paper, extend tray.

  1. Load paper and adjust paper guides. 
  2. Insert paper tray. 
  3. Plug in the device to a grounded outlet. Note: Do not attach USB cable yet.
  4. Turn the printer on and follow prompts on control panel.
  5. Set language and country/region. Click here for User's Guide reference. 
  6. Set Date and Time if applicable.
  7. Set fax name and fax number.

How to Install Printhead and Cartridges:

  1. Open the printer, and remove tape from latch if present.
  2. Press down on the cartridge carrier levers, or lift latch is you have a printer with individual color tanks.
  3. Remove semi-translucent blue tape from the black cartridge and insert it into the the left carrier.

For 2009 Printers Note: Lift latch and remove print head from package.

  1. Close and lock down lid or latch. Listen for a click. 
  2. Remove semi-translucent blue tape from the color cartridge and insert it into the right carrier.

For 2009 Printers Note: Close and open printer one last time and then proceed to install 4 cartridges. Use two hands to lock the black cartridge in place. 

  1. Close and lock down lid.  
  2. Close the printer cover.
  3. Press the checkmark to print an alignment page.
  4. Click Continue.

9 Select the Printer Connection type (Wireless, Wired, USB), and click Continue.
10

Select the Wi-Fi indicator light color, and then click Continue.

Note: For first time set-up, the color or the light should be solid orange. 

Printers with WPS: Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) users can select the green if you have already joined to the printer to the network.
11 "Welcome to the Lexmark 'Wireless' Setup Assistant" appears since it is required to perform the following: 
  • A site survey to locate your base station or wireless router's network.
     
  • Configure printer with appropriate SSID (network name) and security settings to allow the printer to associate with the base station or wireless router.
     
  • Create a print queue or print object on your Mac.
Click Continue.		 No Image
12

Attach the supplied installation cable between computer and printer, and click Continue.

Note: The Continue button will not be available until the Lexmark Setup Assistant has recognized the printer. You may also receive another message warning you to not remove the USB cable. 
13 The Wireless Setup Assistant (WSA) will perform a site survey of available networks (names/SSIDs). Based on signal strength, the utility will try to identify your wireless network name. 
Select one of these two or three option based on printer model and click Continue: 
  • Yes,  I want my printer to join the "Network Name/Router SSID" wireless network; proceed to step 16,  or
  • No, I want my printer to join another wireless network.  Proceed to next step, or
  • Highlight you wireless network name(SSID), and click Continue. Proceed to Step 16.
Click here for image.  

14
Decision step

If your network was not located, perform one of the following after verifying that you wireless network is functioning properly:

  • Click Rescan. The WSA will again attempt to search available networks and display its results. If your network name now appears, highlight the network name and click Continue. Proceed to Step 16.
  • Choose Other Wireless Network and click Continue. See Step 15.
15
Other Wireless Network		 If you chose Other Wireless Network, you will have to enter the following values manually:
  • SSID
     
  • Security Type
     
  • Security key or passphrase
See 'Before you begin' for specific details. 
16 Enter Network Security Information:
  • Security type
     
  • Security key or passphrase

    After entering these values, click Continue.
    Click here for image.  
Important: Remember proper spelling and awareness of  capitalization, spaces and symbols are critical to success.  Also remember that you can click on Show Password to verify proper key/passphrase entry.
17
Configuring your printer... will be displayed.
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18 Successful installation also means successful association (connection) with the base station/wireless router.  The indicator light should change from orange to green.
  > 
19 Disconnect the installation cable, click Continue, and then click Done.
20

The original Lexmark Setup Assistant will appear to display a picture of the printer, the IP address, and the printer's 12-digit MAC address.

Highlight the printer, and click Continue. Note:  The port name includes the last six digits of the printer's MAC address. 

If No printer detected appears, try the following:

  • Click the refresh (  ) button more than once if necessary. 
     
  • Click the drop-down (  ) button, and select add remote to perform an automatic refresh.

Note: Both of these suggestions will query the router to request a DHCP-administered IP address.

Important! Be patient. Some routers take longer than others to detect new MAC hardware addresses.  

If the above suggestions do not work, try the following: 

  1. Turn the printer off and on.
     
  2. Perform a hard reset on both printer and router. (Disconnect the power cords from both printer and router, and then reconnect power to both devices.)
     
  3. Click on the refresh button again.
     
  4. Check router to ensure the DHCP server is enabled.  The DHCP server is responsible for sending out IP addresses.  See the router documentation.  
     
  5. Consider AirPort and Router (AP) settings that are vital if installation fails above.  
Click here for image.    
21 Printer Configuration and Setting up printer will appear.
22 When Product Registration appears, click Register Now or Register Later. No Image
23 Printer Setup Complete!  You can visit Lexmark.com for special offers, print a test page, or continue on to the Fax Setup Utility if you have a 4 in 1 fax-capable All-In-One. No Image

IMPORTANT! The installation 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. 

 

Related Articles

 
Wireless Glossary 
Wireless Inkjet Installation and Communication Troubleshooting Table of Contents ('13 Update) 
Macintosh Fundamentals Table of Contents
How to Identify a Wireless Communication Problem and Resolution Tips

 

Still need help?


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

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

 



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