Can I get a JetDirect NIC for my LaserJet 4250 (1GB speed)

[beontheweb]

Ok Valsimot, thank you.

I can’t seem to find any 695n sets for sale atm. I think I’ll get a 640n card, install it and get it configured.on its own for the timebeing.

I would still like to get the printer accessible over WiFi so maybe look for a 2700w add-on at a later date.

At least I can get 1000TX speeds with a 640n card installed which was my primary objective completed. WiFi would.be good to have, but not essential atm. 👍🏼

Thank you for all your help and advice.

[beontheweb]

Hi Valsimot, sorry, it's me back again.

I have sourced a 640n Jetdirect card and today thought I would attempt to install it. Unfortunately, I have not had much success and I am now in the situation where I am unable to print anything from network attached devices and I am also unable to access the configuration pages using the IP address in a web browser! This is true even after removing the new 640n card and using the old configuration i.e. TCP/IP using the Embedded Jetdirect server. Before I introduced the 640n card into the EIO 1 slot, I was always able to do this. However, I can still use the printer menu screen to change the configuration.

I gave the new 640n card a unique IP address and found that BOTH the 640n card AND the Embedded Jetdirect server would reply to ping requests (so the NIC is working). Nevertheless, I now seem to have lost ALL access to the configuration pages via a web browser.

Do you have any ideas why I am experiencing these issues and any ideas on how I can get it configured correctly?

Am I missing something?

When I use a web browser to try and access these pages, the IP address for the Embedded Jetdirect server eventually responds with the following message:

The connection for this site is not secure

192.168.0.9 uses an unsupported protocol.

ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH

When I try to connect using the IP address for the new 640n card it eventually responds with the following message::

Hmmm… can't reach this page

192.168.0.8 took too long to respond

Try:

• Checking the connection
• Checking the proxy and the firewall

ERR_TIMED_OUT

... and the Windows Network Troubleshooter fails to find any problems with the network.

Both the Embedded Jetdirect server and the 640n card seem to persist in allocating their own manual IP address for their Default Gateway; Is this correct behaviour?

I believe that before I installed the 640n card, the Default Gateway set on the Embedded Jetdirect server was set to 0.0.0.0 i.e. Not Defined - and it used to work.

If you require any additional information e.g. a list of specific or, indeed, ALL the configuration settings, I can get them manually using the printer menu screen - but this may take me some time to document.

Any advice and/or help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone else has any advice or comments to make, they would be welcomed.

Thank you in advance.

[Valsimot]

If I understand after you installed 640 you can't access the printer embedded web server even with the 640 removed.

First step I would do is to run a cold reset with 640 installed, and if that isn't helpful 2nd cold reset without 640. You can even try EIO2 slot

https://www.metrofuser.com/post/how-to-perform-a-cold-reset-on-the-hp-4250-4350-laser-printers 

[beontheweb]

Hi valsimot, thank you for coming to my rescue again! I hope you had a good Christmas?

I have followed your advice - removed the 640n Jetdirect server card, executed a Cold Reset on the printer and then reconfigured it using the printer menu screen. I now have just the Embedded Jetdirect server active and I am pleased to report that I am now able to print and access the printer configuration web interface (only using Google Chrome, however, as my previously used Edge browser seems to still have connection/protocol issues!?).

Anyway, at least I am able to print again (what a BIG relief that is!!!).

Before I attempt re-installation/configuration of the 640n Jetdirect server card into the printer, I have a couple of questions:

1) Do I need to DISABLE the Embedded Jetdirect server from the menu system after I insert the 640n card in EIO1 slot? i.e. in the I/O section for the Embedded Jetdirect server settings, set ENABLE to *OFF or should it be okay to leave it ENABLED (but not connected to the network)?

2) Does the Embedded Jetdirect server interact/share anything with the EIO slots which may cause issues?

Thank you again. 🙂

[Valsimot]

The printer is printing not so you know what to do if it goes "bad" again.

You should be able to use both networks at the same time, but you can try to disable embedded one and install 640.  But first I would install 640 and run another cold reset it should reset 640 too, if you bought it 2nd hand you can't know how was the previous setup of the 640 or reset it from the printers menu ( if applicable).

[beontheweb]

Valsimot, did all the above and it seems that I am able to send a Printer Test Page from within Windows via the 640n successfully. However, I am unable to access any Web Interface on the printer using the 640n IP address.

Maybe a silly question, but do the 640n cards have this facility or is it only provided as part of the Embedded JetDirect server? All my web browsers now respond with errors along the lines of “the site is unreachable” even though test print jobs sent from the same workstation are successfully processed!!???

When I was using the Embedded 10/100 JetDirect Ethernet port I could access the Web Interface using the IP address. I’m confused. Can’t fathom it out.

[Valsimot]

The web interface of 640 should work the same as the embedded one.

Is the 640 new or used? Can you access web interface on the embedded one with 640 installed and check firmware version of 640 ? The latest one for 640 is V.45.39  https://support.hp.com/za-en/document/bpj07429 

[beontheweb]

Hi Valsimot, I have an update.

In reply to your question, the 640n card was purchased used.

I followed your advice and found that the 640n firmware was at "V.45.36_.FF" so as you suggested, I downloaded and updated the card to the latest firmware and the config page is now reporting firmware version "V.45.39._".

I can also report that after updating the firmware to the latest version, I now seem to be able to reliably access the web interface from ALL the browsers I now have installed (the only way I could do this reliably before updating the firmware was by installing and modifying the Firefox Browser configuration and using that! - both my existing Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers would deny access to the printer IP address!).

I find this behaviour strange, but I believe the issue was possibly caused by/something to do with SSL/TLS version conflicts or restrictions?

Looks like the latest 640n card firmware has resolved this.

Next on my list will be to check the Embedded server firmware version and update that if required.

I will then start thinking about getting the Wireless part of the 640n working by installing the HP Jetdirect 2700w USB Solution which I have also purchased.

Thank you.