Need to enable bidirectional support for HP Laserjet 200 M251

[wayneqsr]

I need to enable bidirectional support for this printer. I called tech support and got some of the stupidest reasons as to why bi-directional support isn't supported on this printer. One guy said it was because it didn't have a carriage in it like an ink-jet printer. If that was true then none of our laser jet printers would have this enabled, but all others do. Another suggested we had the wrong printer cartridges??? Really???
Another said it was because it wasn't a commercial printer yet I called it up on an HP web page clearly marked in big bold letters at the top of the page "For Business." Also on the exact same page were some other models we have that this does work on.  We have bought and deployed five of these to use only to get told this isn't available, even though the option is shown in the box, only grayed out.

The reason we need this is we pay for the maintenance on a cost per page basis, and we have a server that polls all of the printers each month to get this info.

Our feelings are that since this was listed on the Business page and yet we are being told it is only supported as a home printer, that these were falsely advertised.

All we want is to figure out how to enable bidirectional support. If the printer can tell the computer to display low toner warnings and the computer can tell the printer what to print, then it is already communicating both ways.

Any assistance in getting this issue resolved would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[dansdaduk]

I don't know the answer (and I have no access to an instance of your printer model).

I think (but I'm not sure) that 'bidirectional support' is usually used to refer to two way communication with devices which are directly-connected, via parallel-port or USB cables.

Your reference to a "... server which polls ..." perhaps suggests that the devices are network-connected (i.e. via ethernet cables, with IP-address).

If so, perhaps (if the device supports it) you need to enable SNMP read/write access?

My local M475dn device has this:

You'd need to check your user guide, and/or experiment with the printer's Embedded Web Server, to see how to set this (if available, of course).

[wayneqsr]

It is connected to the local computer via USB cable. There is a program on the computer that talks to the server to relay the data called FM Audit. The software needs bidirectional support enabled to talk to the printer. I guess I wasn't clear on that part. This software works fine on computers that have other model HP printers attached.

I would network these five printers except we have grown to the point we don't have any spare ports on the network switches plus most are where there aren't any spare network ports anyway and a couple would be very, very hard to run additional network cable to. (I.E. we would need a bucket truck to get all the way to the ceiling in the warehouse.)

Wi-Fi isn't an option for these, either.

Perhaps there is a registry hack I could use to turn this on?

[dansdaduk]

>> .. It is connected to the local computer via USB cable ...

>> ... enable bidirectional support ... the option is shown in the box, only grayed out ...

Problems with communications are not within my areas of expertise, sorry.

... and I know nothing about the mechanism used by  FM Audit to interrogate a device.

All I can suggest is that for bi-directional communication to work, it must (probably) be supported by:

• The workstation
• The printer
• (Perhaps) the printer driver
• The USB port and driver.

If the option is greyed out, perhaps this suggests that the printer driver believes either that the printer, or the port, does not support it?

[dansdaduk]

A Technical White Paper (see http://help.fmaudit.com/fmaa/index.html?page=TechWhitePaperInfo.html ) from FMAudit states:

• ... extract information from one or multiple local printers attached to any Windows port type, such as USB, parallel, blue tooth or infrared ...
• ... During an SNMP query on the network, the Agent service wakes up and communicates direct over the port with the printer ...
• ... Reconfiguration of antivirus or software firewalls may be required if blocking the SNMP port 161, and/or the alternative Agent fallback port 33333.  The Agent installation includes a request to open the appropriate ports on Windows XP sp2 or higher operating system ...

It doesn't really explain much about what "wakes up and communicates direct over the port" means, or requires.

Have you asked the FMAudit technical support unit for advice on compatibility of different printer models?

[wayneqsr]

According to the FMAudit people, it's supported and this is what we need to do.

I'm using the printer's driver that the HP page says is for the printer. There was a firmware update which I applied, but that didn't help.

[wayneqsr]

Thank you for finding this page. It's more info than the FMAudit support gave us.

I am fairly sure it isn't a firewall issue, otherwise none of the others would work as all firewall settings are handled by group policy. I will, however, double check these computers to see if perhaps the driver software somehow modified the port settings on the computer.

Thank you for your assistance..

[KCCopyguy]

So I read all of the replies and I did not see a solution.  We have the exact same issue and it's not FM Audit, it is the print driver.  I was told to use the Universal driver, and while I can select Bi Directional support, it only reports meters, no toner levels.  We need an answer.  Our printers are the HP LaserJet 400 M401n, but the same difference.

[dansdaduk]

@KCCopyguy

>> ... So I read all of the replies and I did not see a solution.

This is a peer-to-peer forum , where most responses are from volunteers, who (like myself) do not work for HP.

Solutions to questions cannot be guaranteed, if there is no-one available who knows an appropriate answer; all we can do is try to advise.

... and adding on a comment to this old thread (last updated nearly a year ago) probably means that few other people will see it.

Better to start a new question (via the Post new question button); you can always add a link (via the insert/edit link button) to this old thread.

>> ... We have the exact same issue and it's not FM Audit, it is the print driver.

>>...  I was told to use the Universal driver, and while I can select Bi Directional support ...

>> ... it only reports meters, no toner levels.

>> ...  Our printers are the HP LaserJet 400 M401n, but the same difference.

 The original issue was not being able to select bidirectional support, on a printer from a different series (a LaserJet 200 Pro M251), where the author @wayneqsrstated "...  the printer can tell the computer to display low toner warnings and the computer can tell the printer what to print, then it is already communicating both ways ...".

So I'd suggest that your problem is not the exact same issue.

[KCCopyguy]

Cannot select bi-directional communication on HP LaserJet M series, 401, 251 or otherwise…Check

Using the official HP driver for the model in question…Check

Using FM Audit…Check

FM Audit agents not reporting…Check

Again, need to check the box for Bi-Directional printing and cannot because it’s greyed out…Check.

Post being viewed by other members in the community…Check, in fact wayneqsr gave me kudos.

So… I’m not sure where suggesting it’s not the same problem comes into play.

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