This article shows how to perform a network trace; a useful tool for diagnosing printer-related network communication issues.
Overview
This article explains how to perform a network trace that Lexmark Technical Support may request for evaluation by 3rd level support and product engineering teams. A network trace is a useful tool for diagnosing printer-related network communication issues.
Requirements
Hub
A hub should be used to capture a network trace.
Why?
Hubs allow every port to see all the network traffic going to other ports on the device. In contrast, a switch, router, or smart hub directs network traffic to specific destinations (ports), which may prevent a comprehensive network trace and thus not provide a true picture of the network's condition.
If a hub is not available, you may be required to turn on 'port mirroring' to obtain a successful network trace. Please refer to the
User's Guide
for the switch or router for further details.
Two additional Ethernet cables
You will need two additional functioning network cables to perform this procedure.
Network trace application
This example uses a recommended network trace application (network packet analyzer) called
next to the network interface that is showing an IP address.
This should be the host computer referred to in
Step 4
.
Click
OK
to begin the trace and perform the function related to the failing printer, multifunction product (MFP), or All-In-One (AIO). See this image.
When you are ready to stop the trace, click this icon or click
Capture
>
Stop
from the application's menu bar.
If you successfully emulated the network communication anomaly or failure, click this icon to save the trace. Alternatively, click
File
>
Save As
from the menu bar.
Submit the trace information to your Lexmark Technical Support representative. Include the printer's IP address (network settings page) and computer
ipconfig
information.
After the capture
Disconnect both ends of the Ethernet cable connected from the hub to the computer that took the network trace. Place this in the box, if provided.
Disconnect both ends of the Ethernet cable connected from the hub to the printer. Place this in the box, as above.
Disconnect the Ethernet cable connected to the hub. This should be the cable that was previously connected to the printer. Reconnect this cable to the printer.
Reconnect the Ethernet cable that was previously connected to the computer that took the network trace to the computer.
Place the hub and its power supply back in its box or original location.