Are network switches assigned IP addresses?

Chris Wilson

Chris Wilson

Chris Wilson

Permabanned
Joined
28 Nov 2003
Posts
10,695
Location
Shropshire
I am running Windows XP Pro, and have just put a new router on line as my old Netgear started dropping the ADSL connection to Zen, my ISP. The Netgear showed my network printers on the other side of an old D-Link switch. The new Technicolour TG582n does something different it seems, if I am understanding the display correctly. I suspect it has assigned an IP address to the switch itself. Is that possible, or normal? I am trying to work out if it's displaying my 2 printers in the "Local Network Devices". I am unsure if an arcane ID is for a printer or the switch. It's nothing like as intuitive to set up as the Netgear DG834v2.

I have a fixed IP address and really want all devices on my solely hard wired home office network (router, main PC, 2 laptops and 3 network printers), some fed direct of the router ports some via the 8 port switch, to each have fixed IP addresses, as with the Netgear. There doesn't seem to b a proper manual available for the Technicolour, either, which doesn't help someone like me who is hopeless with networks. At the moment it seems the Technicolour is assigning IP addresses and ignoring, for example, printer IP addresses assigned in Windows - Printers - Ports.

I want fixed IP addresses as I use amateur radio software that allows remote operation of equipment across the network. It has to be set up showing a fixed IP address for each PC, and if they change it locks up and has to be manually reset to reflect the new IP address, IYSWIM? :)

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
This is an ancient thing and not managed, so I have to assume the Technicolour is showing devices connected to the switch on the port the switch is plugged INTO the router. So if I have 2 network printers plugged into the switch how do I get the Technicolour to assign them the fixed IP addresses I have assigned the printers in Windows? The router is assigning or seeing them as different IP addresses. I think I can suss the PC's, it's the printers that are being difficult. Thanks for the fast answers :)
 
OK, thanks mrbell1984

I am seeing an anomaly though, or I am probably misunderstanding something. I now have the router set up dialogue screen showing the printers. If I go to each actual printer and manually force them to print a configuration page they show different IP addresses to those that Windows - Settings - Printers and Faxes - That Printer - Printer - Properties - Ports shows. I can set the Ports to the same IP address the printer config page shows, and Windows holds that setting. I cannot change the IP addresses in the Ports dialogue box and have the printer itself change its IP address to match. So I have changed the Ports - IP Addresses to match the config pages for the two printers. All works, and I have set the router to always use these addresses. Am I doing things right, and why won't the printer IP addresses follow those set in Windows? Thanks
 
Windows will be configured to use the printer IP addresses which were in use when the printer was added. It won't follow any later IP address changes. This is just how things are.

You'd usually configure static IPs for the printers before adding them. If you've now reassigned the printers their original IPs and they're now static you shouldn't have any further problems.
 
I have a feeling the printers have been assigned a dynamic address (DHCP) from the router.
- It sounds like you are over complicating things when re-reading your posts.

(Print a config page out from the printer)

1) Give your printer a static IP address.
2) Delete the printer from windows.
3) Re-add it using the static address giving in the printer.

-- It's really as simple as that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom