[ale] Networked Printer Problem

[aaron]

OK... weird...but I think I just found a workable configuration.

When I was reconnecting, I started seeing the same kind of traffic jams after 
I plugged the 10base windblows 98 box into the gateway with my 100 base 
systems.

I moved both the 10 base connections (windblows & LaserWriter) off the router 
and on to the Netgear Switch. All seems to be working now.

Would love an explanation if any of you guru's know why the 10 / 100 mix would 
suddenly start causing problems on the router.

peace
aaron

On Tuesday 10 May 2005 00:58, aaron wrote:
> I have an Apple LaserWriter 12/640 PS connected via ethernet on my 
> Mac OSeX / Linux / windBlows 98 home network, and the thing HAD been working 
> fine for me for about a year. In fact, it was working well enough that I
> just  bought a new $120 toner cartridge in hopes that my original $70
> investment will keep printing for another couple thousand pages.
> 
> Recently, the device seems to be the cause of some severe traffic jams on my 
> DLink  740p  gateway router and  Netgear 10/100 switch. When the printer is 
> plugged in and turned  on, the traffic indicators on the routing boxes start 
> strobing and even intermittently flash out, and attempts to load any net 
> pages on any of the systems will time out or fail to resolve the DNS . The 
> LED on the printer's network adapter, however, does not indicate traffic. 
> 
> I've been trouble shooting this for a while without success, including:
>  -- checked all net cabling, reseated all connections and swapped out the 
> printer's special RJ45<>Mac custom ethernet connector adapter with a known 
> good unit. 
>  --Tried various printer / router / system / switch connection combos, 
> including connecting only one machine plus the printer to the gateway and 
> connecting with a different 10/100 switch.
>  --Updated the gateway router firmware to it's latest incarnation. Variously 
> reset and fiddled with DHCP server settings and tried mapping the printer
> mac as a fixed address, etc.
> 
> I just confirmed that the printer's ethernet IS working, as I was able to 
> directly connect the printer to my eMac, then read and update the printer 
> configuration through the Apple Printer Utility software.
> 
> This is looking to me like some bizarre address or DHCP conflict, possibly 
> some hack, but I can't do much tracing since the printer loads the network 
> down.
> 
> Any suggestions that might help solve this problem?
> 
> with appreciation,
> peace
> aaron