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I recently got a WPS54G wireless print server from Linksys. After spending the odd 15 minutes trying to use their setup program to get it to work, and about 45 trying to find out what the static IP is set to on the device, I contacted Linksys Live Chat (I love Live Chats). What follows is my chat with Lailei, #17182:

Lailei (17182): Hi, my name is Lailei (17182). How may I help you?
Wezzul: need the default ip for a wps54g wireless print server
Lailei (17182): HI Wezzul! How are you today?
Wezzul: great
Lailei (17182): That's good. Before we begin, I need to ask a few questions that will help me assist you better. May I have your name and telephone number starting with the area code please?
Wezzul: ############, 800-###-####
Lailei (17182): Thank you. Can you please confirm the model number of your Linksys product?
Wezzul: wps54g
Lailei (17182): Thank you. By default, the device is on DHCP. It will grab any available IP address from the your router.
Lailei (17182): Is this the first time that you will install the device?
Wezzul: yeah, it is. it doesn't grab an IP, that's for sure. Not wired or wireless
Lailei (17182): I see. Are you also using a Linksys router?
Wezzul: i have a linksys router, yes
Wezzul: it's not plugged directly into that at this point, but another switch
Lailei (17182): Okay. What is the model number?
Wezzul: no idea
Wezzul: as far as looking for wireless clients goes
Lailei (17182): Is the DHCP server on the router on?
Wezzul: it's not going to show up since it's not connecting to teh wireless.... wps54g doesnt have the wep key, so there is really no way for it to connect
Wezzul: no, it's not. dhcp is handled by another device
Lailei (17182): I see. On the switch where the print server is connected, do you have computers connected to it?
Wezzul: yeah, i have about 30 computers connected to it
Lailei (17182): Okay. What is the IP range or subnet of your network?
Wezzul: 10.0.0.0
Lailei (17182): Thank you. Can you tell me the steps have you tried so far in installing this device?
Wezzul: i ran that silly windows setup thing, which detected no print server. i wrote a bash script to ping every ip in the subnet, and i tried accessing teh web cp for all the ones i wasn't absolutely sure what they were.
Lailei (17182): I see. What device is the DHCP server on the network - another router or a windows server?
Wezzul: it's a linux server
Lailei (17182): Okay. For initial installation, have you tried using the Bi-admin utility?
Wezzul: the bi-admin utility? what is that?
Lailei (17182): It's a software that can detect the print server on the network. It's included in the CD. Please install it and we will try to use it.
Wezzul: oh, that
Wezzul: yeah, that didn't detect anything
Lailei (17182): You already tried it?
Wezzul: yeah, the software on the cd that detects the print server. I definitely tried that.
Wezzul: it didn't find any print servers on the network.
Lailei (17182): I am referring to a software called Bi-admin utility. The setup wizard is different from the Bi-Admin utility.
Wezzul: alright, let me walk to the windows box give me a minute.
Lailei (17182): Okay.
Wezzul: installed, ran, detects nothing
Lailei (17182): If you have any firewall on the computer, please disable it.
Wezzul: there isn't one on it
Wezzul: not that if there was, it could be blocking outgoing traffic on the LAN
Lailei (17182): Okay. Is the computer connected on the same switch with the print server?
Wezzul: yes
Lailei (17182): Okay. Can you tell me the lights that are lit on the print server?
Wezzul: ethernet, wireless, power
Wezzul: no printer connected to it right now, but thats' not part of the issue anyways
Lailei (17182): I see. Since it's wired to a switch, only the ethernet and the power should be lit up. Please reboot the print server by unplugging the power for 30 seconds.
Wezzul: well, it's detecting that there is a wireless connection, i'm sure
Wezzul: but that's fine, be right back with you
Lailei (17182): Okay.
Wezzul: ok, ethernet and power now
Wezzul: still not foudn
Lailei (17182): Are you running the Bi-admin utility?
Wezzul: yes
Lailei (17182): Okay. Let us reset the device. Follow these steps:
Wezzul: just as an aside, the device is new out of the box today
Lailei (17182):
RESET:

1.) Unplug the power of the print server . With the power off , hold the reset button . Do not let go of the reset button.
2.) Plug the power on the print server. Continue pressing the reset button for 15 seconds . Release the reset button.
3.) Unplug the power of the print server for about 15 seconds.


Wezzul: ok, one second
Lailei (17182): Yes, I understand.
Wezzul: done
Lailei (17182): Okay. Please check if only the ethernet and power is on.
Wezzul: they are
Wezzul: and bi-admin does not detect the print server
Lailei (17182): Okay. Can you connect the print server directly to a PC? You will need to set the computer to a static IP.
Wezzul: what is the end goal of this?
Wezzul: and what static ip in what subnet?
Lailei (17182): You can set the IP to 10.0.0.5 or any IP that's on the same range with your existing network.
Wezzul: and then how is the print server going to get an ip?
Lailei (17182): We will use the Bi-Admin. If the Bi-admin can detect the device, we will set it to static IP.
Wezzul: ok, awesome, one second
Lailei (17182): This is our last option.
Wezzul: that, as expected, did nothing. are you sure there is no static ip set on this device?
Lailei (17182): I am 100% sure.
Wezzul: hmm. well, it certainly doesn't seem to be obtaining one by any method you've described thus far. seems a bit odd.
Lailei (17182): When you switch the connection from the switch to the PC, did you reboot the device?
Wezzul: the print server?
Wezzul: yeah, they are in different rooms
Lailei (17182): Okay.
Lailei (17182): Can you do the reset again? After that check if Bi-admin will be able to detect the device. Also, you can try to run the setup wizard.
Wezzul: sure, one second.


This is where I gave up. I went out to shoot the shit for my boss, came back, and what follows is when I had some fun with it:

Lailei (17182): Thank you.
Lailei (17182): Please tell me if it's done.
Wezzul: sorry about that. i reset it, and then turned it back on, hodlding the reset button
Wezzul: it started a small fire.
Wezzul: i had noticed it was really hot before, but now it is a bit too hot.
Lailei (17182): I see. You are using the original power adapter, correct?
Wezzul: oh yeah, right out of the box. this is not good.
Wezzul: i'm pretty sure the fire is out now, but still a bit scary that something as insignificant as a print server could start a fire
Lailei (17182): I don't think it can start a fire.
Wezzul: i didn't think it could either.
Wezzul: unfortunately, we both guessed wrong
Lailei (17182): When did you purchase the device?
Wezzul: a few days ago, from CDW
Wezzul: it arrived yesterday, i took it out of the package today.
Wezzul: clearly, i'll be returning the melted plastic and circuit board back to CDW at this point.
Wezzul: it's definitely not going to retain an IP now.
Lailei (17182): Okay. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Lailei (17182): Do you have any other questions that I can help you with today?
Wezzul: i don't think so, no. you've been less than helpful
Lailei (17182): We did everything that we could to make it work. Unfortunately, it's defective.
Wezzul: i'll say it is. someone could have been seriously hurt. I used to think Linksys made quality goods.
Wezzul: Netgear has won the day.
Lailei (17182): Okay.
Lailei (17182): Do you have any other Linksys device that I may help you?
Wezzul: Nope, I'm going to roll those out to the trash. I can't afford a fire that I'm unable to put out.
Lailei (17182): Be sure to visit our Knowledge Base located at http://www.linksys.com/kb. The site contains troubleshooting tips, how-to instructions, as well as solutions to common issues relating to all Linksys products.
Wezzul: Thankfully, my skin is made of abestos
Wezzul: I will certainly visit it.
Lailei (17182): Again, this is Lailei with Tech ID 17182.
Lailei (17182): Thank you for giving us an opportunity to serve you through Live Chat Support. For your records, a transcript of this chat session will be e-mailed to you. Feel free to contact us if you require further assistance. Thank you for choosing Linksys and have a great day!
Wezzul: FAQ: why did Linksys burn down my house?
Lailei (17182): I need to exit this chat session to attend to other clients. Thank you.
Wezzul: No, thank you!
Lailei (17182): Please do not forget to exit of the chat session so that I can assist other clients. Thank you.
Wezzul: I feel strangely at home here.


As an aside, I would like to state that plugging a print server into the back of a computer with a regular cat5 cable, and expecting the print server to magically obtain an ip from a computer that isn't running DHCP doesn't really work. Not even for linksys.
Posted on Thursday, October 12, 12:48pm in AIM Convos by wezzul | Comments (4) | Permanent Link