How do I setup a Deskjet 2542 as a wireless printer on my network from a linux computer?

[stuman2]

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to setup the printer to work wirelessly from a Windows XP virutal machine bridged to the network, and I can't figure out how to set it up directly from linux.  Is there a way to do this without a windows physical machine?

[flyingcircle]

I would suggest trying to connect to the printer by IP which you can find by clicking the wireless button on the printer's front panel. Then follow the directions here:

Not an HP website

http://helpdeskgeek.com/networking/connect-to-network-printer-in-windows-xp/

As far as Linux setup is concerned the directions can be different depending on the distro type that you have. Some distros have printer wizards that you can go through on the 'systems' or 'administration' pages, while others you may have to manually download the driver for your printer manually.

A common method for linux printer setup is through using CUPS. For more info you can check out:

http://www.maketecheasier.com/set-up-a-printer-in-linux/

[stuman2]

Unfortunately, this did not answer my question.

I have no Windows computers.  The wizards on the driver CD are only usable if you have a Windows computer connected wirelessly to the same network in order to set the values.  I only have Windows in virtual machines, which are not detected as wireless even when bridged to the wireless adapter of their host computer.

I favor HP printers due to their historic linux compatibility, and this one works fine as a USB printer...however, I would like to set it up wirelessly on my home network.  Modern security requirements also make it difficult, as my main wireless network is only WEP (I am secure as the nearest other computer user to me is 3/4 of a mile down the road, and he is my good friend and would not hack my network...I have given him access anyway for when he has his laptop at my house).

I can work around the security level by using a WiFi extension router I have which has more modern security options, but I still cannot simply assign values in the printer's memory from linux and go.  There needs to be a way to do this.

Thanks, but no thumbs up yet.

[flyingcircle]

I would like to help find a solution for you, but I'll need to gather some more information to give you a more specific answer.

You are talking about the wizard on CD driver. Have you tried using the 'add printer' wizard that is built into Windows XP. 

1. Navigate to the virtual machine desktop, and log on if necessary. (You will be logged in automatically if you saved the credentials.)
2. Open Control Panel, and then open Printers.
3. Click Add Printer. The Add Printer Wizard opens.
4. On the Local or Network Printer page, select the network printer option and complete the wizard.

The to help with your linux situation, what kind of Linux OS and version are you running?

[TreeFrog]

This printer has a feature called HP Wireless Direct.  HP Wireless Direct allows a device, computer or tablet of phone, to connect directly to the printer and send it print jobs or configure the printer. 

To configure the wireless on your printer using HP Direct Print do the following:

- Turn on HP Wireless Print by pressing the HP Wireless Direct button on the printer.

- Connect your LINUX box directly to the printers netwokr, SSID HP Print XY...

- Once your LINUX computer is connected start a web browser and open 192.168.223.1.  That is the printers IP address.  A web page will come up and you can configure the printer to connect to your home network from that page.

From the 2542 users guide.

To connect wirelessly to the printer without a router, press the Wireless Direct button from the printer

control panel. If this is the first time you turn on HP wireless direct, a How to Connect information

page will be printed out. Follow the instructures on the printed information page.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03847745.pdf

[stuman2]

I have no issue with using the printer wirelessly in a direct mode, and do so to scan pictures on my linux machine.

I have no issue with using the printer via usb either.

I do NOT have an XP physical machine to use to connect my printer to my wireless network.

What I wish to do is connect the printer to the wireless network so that I can print to it from any of the computers or virtual machines on my home network.  I currently have two physical linux machines, one virtual linux machine, a handful of XP virtual machines and one windows 8 computer. 

I have attempted to connect the printer wirelessly via the windows 8 computer but it failed to work after working through the wizard a few times.  What I need is a direct way to plug in the network parameters into the computer and have it connect to the network.  Each time I have tried to do it with the windows 8 computer (my wife's laptop), it looks good until the last part where it saves the settings to the printer (usb connected at that time per the wizard).  It then fails to connect and I have to start all over.

The problem is that in order to take advantage of the wireless option of the printer, I need to have a windows computer.  I expected more from HP, and I'm quite disappointed.  My last two HP printers have had issues with using them with linux.

[stuman2]

I will try and find the wireless configuration on the browser when connected wireless direct.  I did not see that when I was messing with it the other day.