How to activate the Network Sniffer for capturing network traces on 2012 and 2016 Lexmark devices
How to Activate the Network Sniffer for Capturing Network Traces on 2012 ? 2016 Lexmark Devices
Affected Products:
2016: | CS720, CS725, CS727, CS728, C4150, CS820, CS827 C6160, CX725, CX727, XC4140, XC4143, XC4150, XC4153, CX820, CX825, CX827, CX860, XC6152, XC6153, XC8155, XC8160, XC8163 |
2014: | MS312, MS312, MS315, MS415, MS91x, MX91x, MS415dn, MX91x |
2012: | CS31x, CS41x, CS51x, CX31x, CX41x, CX51x, MS31x, MS41x, MS51x, MS61x, MS71x, MS81x, MS911, MX41x, MX51x, MX61x, MX71x, MX81x, MS91x |
Issue Description:
Upon escalation of network-related issues – such as a not functioning
Secure Socket Layer
(SSL
) authentication, or being unable to connect to the network, etc. – a network trace will be required for investigation purposes. Hence, the printer's network sniffing feature must be activated in capturing the network trace.Note:
Lexmark printers, by default, have the network sniffer
feature disabled. An up-to-date
printer firmware will, however, make options available.Activate Network Sniffer:
The steps to activate the
network sniffer
will vary depending on the printer’s release date.Additional Information:
Should the issue persist, please
contact the next level of support
for further diagnosis.Activating the Network Sniffer for 2016 Printer Models:
The following steps detail how to activate the
network sniffer
: 1. | Check whether the firmware is updated, If the firmware is outdated, use the latest PE-released firmware and refer to Downloading the latest Lexmark printer firmware for the steps on how to check, download and update the printer firmware. |
2. | Activating the network sniffer will require a license; thus, you need to contact your next level of support or Lexmark Technical Support to acquire the license file.Note: Only the firmware PEs provide the license file, and it has expiration. |
3. | Once you have the license file, proceed loading that file to the printer by going to Settings > Configuration Files > Import > browse the license file from your computer > then click Import . |
4. | In your USB Flash Drive or thumb drive, create a folder name " sniff ". |
5. | Plug into the printer the USB Flash Drive or thumb drive where you will save the captured network sniff file. |
6. | Access the USB Flash Drive or thumb drive on the printer’s control panel and check the contents of the sniff folder. You should see a pcap file inside it. |
Activating the Network Sniffer for 2012 and 2014 Printer Models:
The following steps detail how to activate the
network sniffer
:1. | Check whether the firmware is updated, If the firmware is outdated, use the latest PE-released firmware and refer to Downloading the latest Lexmark printer firmware for the steps on how to check, download and update the printer firmware. |
2. | Activating the network sniffer will require a license; thus, you need to contact your next level of support or Lexmark Technical Support to acquire the license file.Note: Only the firmware PEs provide the license file, and it has expiration. |
3. | Once you have the license file, proceed loading that file to the printer by going to Settings > Configuration Files > Licenses tab > click the Install button > browse the license file from your computer > then click Install . |
4. | Verify the license was successfully installed by checking the list of licenses on the printer. See sample screen shot here, with the newly installed license outlined in red .See image here. |
5. | Plug the USB Flash Drive or thumb drive in which you will save the captured network sniff file into the printer. |
6. | A Remote Monitoring Active message displays on the printer’s control panel status pane to give you the cue that the printer is ready to start capturing data. See this sample image; message is outlined in red .See image here. |
7. | Access the printer’s SE menu by going to http://<printer’s IP address>/se, then locate and click on Sniffer Control to set up the tool. |
8. | Configure the Sniffer Control settings by:
Click here to see what is on the Sniffer Control page. Note: In the "Interface To Sniff" option, select "lo " for loopback connection and "eth0 " for wired. |
9. | Click on Submit to save the changes and run the sniffing tool. |
Stopping the Sniffer and Saving the Network Trace (.gzip):
In capturing the network trace, try to replicate the issue should it be reproducible; otherwise, let the
network sniffer
run until the issue reoccurs on the printer.Once the issue is reproduced, you may stop the sniffing tool. The following steps will guide you in how to save the captured network sniff.
First… |
Access Sniffer Control by going to the printer's SE menu. |
Second… |
Uncheck Start Sniffer and click Submit to stop the tool when the issue is reproduced. See this sample here. |
Then… |
Open Sniffer Control again and click on Download Sniffs and Debug Info . This should download a gzip file that contains the captured sniff file or network trace.See image here. |
LEGACY ID:
HO4021