Trying to get Wifi Printer to work on a Load Balanced Router

Trying to get Wifi Printer to work on a Load Balanced Router

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Phunk

Original Poster:

1,976 posts

172 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
I have a small office at work with 6 clients (3 Mac and 3 PC)

All machines are connected via lan into a switch which is then connected to a Tp-Link TL-R470T+ Load Balanced router which is connected to two BT broadband WIFI modems.

All works well, computers can see each other etc.

We have a HP OfficeJet 6950 which is connected via WIFI to one of the BT Modems.

The issue is that none of the computers can see the printer, unless they connect via wifi to the relevant BT Modem.

On the MACs I can connect to both LAN and WiFi at the same time and the problem is solved. However I cannot get the PC's to connect to both.

Any ideas?

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,976 posts

172 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
nyt said:
As above, your printer needs to be on the same subnet as the computers.

You have 2 options:

- Plug the printer into the load sharing device (or switch) using the printer's RJ45 network connection (and turn off its wifi)

- Plug the printer into one of the computers using USB and then share that printer over your network using the standard Windows or Mac sharing facilities (probably easier to attach the printer to a Windows box).
Aha - plan B sounds like the best idea. The printer doesn’t have a network port!

I’ll give it a bash, thanks!

Phunk

Original Poster:

1,976 posts

172 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
quotequote all
megaphone said:
Do you only have the BT hubs? Which model? Do you have the white BT/Openreach modems?

The best set-up would be to switch your two BT hubs into modem only mode, all they should be doing is providing the broadband to the WAN ports on the router. The router should be doing all the routing.

Then add a WiFi access point of some description on the switch for your WiFi, this will ensure everything is on the same sub-net and behind any firewall settings in the router.
Yes - BT Hubs Business Hub 5 (Type A)

I'll get these switched over to modem mode.

I've added this into the switch and connected the printer to it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00APZZ30W/ref...

Seems to work (only tested on Macs through ethernet, still need to set the PC's up)

Thanks for your help all!