Question HP Network Printer won't print through OpenVPN connection.

[Chatak]

Hello,

I have configured OpenVPN server on a TP-Link AX23 Router (192.168.2.1) which is behind the ISP provided router.

The VPN connection can be established and it works fine. On the client side I use OpenVPN client for Windows.

I have 3 printers which all prints fine on the Local network (192.168.2.0) . But when I sent prints from the remote VPN client through the OpenVPN connection, 2 printers print and 1 printer doesn’t.

The printer which prints through the OpenVPN connection are on Print Servers having IPs 192.168.2.61 & 62. The one that doesn’t print over OpenVPN is HP LaserJet Pro MFP M126nw printer having IP 192.168.2.64. This printer works fine on Local network but as its doesn’t print through OpenVPN connection. I can ping 192.168.2.64 from remote VPN Client computer through OpenVPN connection.

What can I do to make this HP LaserJet Pro MFP M126nw printer print through the OpenVPN connection?

Regards.

 

[helpstar]

change the ip of this printer to 61 and try printing

 

[Chatak]

change the ip of this printer to 61 and try printing

local Printing has no problem. Problem is with printing through VPN connection. I can ping the IP through the VPN but can't print. Already tried changing IP. Nothing changed.

 

[helpstar]

did you connect it by wifi or ethernet cable?
did you really try the ip 61 or 62 or a different one?

 

[Chatak]

did you connect it by wifi or ethernet cable?

Ethernet cable

 

[helpstar]

try connecting the printer to a different port of the TP-Link AX23, which the working ones are using

 

[Chatak]

did you connect it by wifi or ethernet cable?
did you really try the ip 61 or 62 or a different one?

IP 61 and 62 printers worked fine. I disconnected them and tried with both the IPs, 61 & 62.

 

[Chatak]

try connecting the printer to a different port of the TP-Link AX23, which the working ones are using

Connecting printer directly to Ax23 will not be possible. Lan canble comes from AX23 to switch and printers are connected to the switch.

 

[bill001g]

Are the printers all the same model number. Are there any different settings.

Maybe the printer is using another method of sending data between the pc and the printer that is not based on IP. VPN only passes IP protocols. This is not real common anymore.

If you can ping the printer then your networking is fine. Maybe load wireshark and watch the print session both on the vpn and local.
It could also be something like MTU size but generally applications figure that out. The vpn is adding 24 bytes to every packet so there is less room for data.

Can you tell if the router assigns your vpn machine a different mac address or is it using the routers mac. Maybe the printer is confused by something like this.

 

[helpstar]

which switch is it?

 

[lantis3]

As suggested as above, are all 3 printers the same model?

Did you install the driver for this printer? Also suggested as above, it could be using different method to communicate.

And. did you update the firmware?
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-m126-series/model/5303411

 

[lantis3]

Further search found that MFP M126nw only supports PCLm, which is completely different from PCL5/6

From internet:

127fw - PCLm printer
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/LaserJet-Printing/HP-127fw-and-PCL6-or-5/td-p/5589979

MFP M130FN - a PCLmS printer. (should be close to PCLm printer)
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Laser...CL-6-document-on-a-PCLms-capable/td-p/7529811

Driverless Printing Standards And their PDLS

Making Printing Just Work.

openprinting.github.io

PCLm is a raster-only subset of PDF that has nothing to do with the original HP PCL. Since PCLm files are valid PDF files, you can view them using a standard PDF file viewer or print them on a PDF printer. However, printers that support PCLm can only accept PCLm files produced for a particular combination of band height, color space, and resolution that is supported by the printer.

So if you are sending a PCL printing job (my guess) to MFP M126nw, it won't print!

 

[Chatak]

Further search found that MFP M126nw only supports PCLm, which is completely different from PCL5/6

From internet:

127fw - PCLm printer
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/LaserJet-Printing/HP-127fw-and-PCL6-or-5/td-p/5589979

MFP M130FN - a PCLmS printer. (should be close to PCLm printer)
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Laser...CL-6-document-on-a-PCLms-capable/td-p/7529811

Driverless Printing Standards And their PDLS

Making Printing Just Work.

openprinting.github.io

So if you are sending a PCL printing job (my guess) to MFP M126nw, it won't print!

Thank you so much for your input. The 2 printers that print through the vpn tunnel are LPD printers. So, any ideas you can share how I can print PCL printing jobs through the vpn tunnel?

 

[Chatak]

As suggested as above, are all 3 printers the same model?

Did you install the driver for this printer? Also suggested as above, it could be using different method to communicate.

And. did you update the firmware?
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-laserjet-pro-mfp-m126-series/model/5303411

All printers are not same. The printers that print through the vpn tunnel are LPD printers.

 

[lantis3]

The 2 printers that print through the vpn tunnel are LPD printers. So, any ideas you can share how I can print PCL printing jobs through the vpn tunnel?

I guess you said it's already working earlier?

IP 61 and 62 printers worked fine.

Anyway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_Printer_Daemon_protocol

use VPN's IP addresses for printers.

Of course the printer models you choose must be PCL compatible.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wwo5Q1iTv4