[schwachs]

Hi. I just got an HP1200N printer than hooks up to my ethernet network. I set it up under the IP address it got from the DHCP server on my DSL Router from Linksys.

Here's my question...

Right now it has IP address 192.168.1.103 but I'm quite sure that can and will change as is expected w/ DHCP.

Is there some way to refer to this printer via a name so that my Macs (and PCs) on my home network don't have to worry about IP address changes. I assume there must be a way so in fact, my question is not "is there some way" but in fact, "what is the way..."

Thanks!

-- schwa
-- http://www.joshua.com

[sray]

Unless you want to setup and run a name resolution service on your network (if you're asking this type of question, I assume that you don't) you do not want your printer to get dynamic IPs.

Instead tell your router/DHCP server to restrict the IPs it hands out to a particular range, eg. 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.35. Then pick an IP above that range (such as 192.168.0.50) and assign that to the printer as a static IP.

Now your computers can either refer to the printer by a static IP or by name (enter a line in your hosts file to map the static IP to a name).

I have a Netgear router/dhcp server with a combination of PCs and Macs attached to it. All the computers get dynamic addresses. The network laserprinter has a static IP address so all can refer to it.

[schwachs]

Awesome reply and ideas. Thanks. If I could also ask one more question...

Can you explain where this host file is and what the format is to change it so I can refer to the printer by name?

I assume I'll have to change it on each users machine?

thanks!

[aaanorton]

If you're OS X, go to Print Center and click on the printer in thr printer list. Then go Printers > Show Info and change the name to whatever.