I'm trying to install a new printer to my home network. The install software is asking for an IP address???

Question

An HP officejet 6310

Answer 1

You've accidentally chosen IP Printing. If you don't have an IP connection (Like HP JetDirect) then go back and select the more correct port, like LPT1. Things should work from there on out.

Answer 2

You need to find the IP address set my your DHCP controller. Probably your router/firewall/wireless hub sets this. You can print the network configuration page from the printer. That will tell you what address has been given to the printer.

Using DHCP on a printer is easy but not necessarly the best method. If you change or add a computer or loose power to your entire network, your IP addresses could be changed. Then you would need to change/add the new network ports for the moved printer. I typically set the IP address on all network devices (printers & storage devices) manually. I disable the DHCP for the device and set the manual address to something outside the DHCP host range. Most have a limited number of DHCP addresses. A linksys router will have a default DHCP client address range of 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.199. I set my printers to 192.168.1.200 and above on my network and I set all my servers and network storage devices to 192.168.1.2 and above up to 192.168.1.99. The default address for the linksys router is 192.168.1.1. This same behavior is true for all DHCP host capable routers only that starting address is likely to be different.

You can check your router owners manual or the router setup for DHCP through a browser for the default setup.

Answer 3

Assign it an IP address in your local subnet. (typically by changing only the last number in the IP set (192.168.1.xxx). To find your local subnet address, type "ipconfig" from a command prompt. This gives you your computer's IP address. Assign the printer an address equal to the first three numbers, and a different one for the last number. (ex: Computer is 192.168.1.100; assign printer 192.168.1.200).