Printing from iPad using AirPrint

[toffee_paul]

Hi,

 

I've been pulling my hair out trying to set up wireless printing from iPads using AirPrint but just cannot seem to get past the user authentication set up on the printers we use. *

 

Here's our setup ...

 

 

• Konica Minolta c364e with User Authentication enabled (Account Track not used therefore disabled)
  
• iPad Air with a configuration profile installed enabling AirPrint and pointing to the above printer
  

 

I get as far as the printer showing the job so I know the connection between the iPad and printer is working fine. On the job history I get a "Deleted Due To Error" message. More specifically, "Logon error" is the message that appears when I'm standing at the printer looking at the job list. We also have Konica Minolta printer that doesn't have any kind of user authentication as it's used only by two office staff, AirPrint printing works fine with this printer so it's something to do with the user authentication on the c364e. On the screenshot I've included the "type" field lists the username of whoever has printed. When using AirPrint, the username seems to be automatically set as "mobile". Specifying a different username or even setting a password for this username on the actual iPad is not an option as theres's nowhere to configure this, it just seems hardwired into the iPad.

 

My next step was to create a user on the printer called "mobile". It was pointless giving this user a password as it can't be entered onto the iPad when sending anything to print. With a Windows print driver, all users are prompted for their username/password but, like previously mentioned, that doesn't appear to be an option with the iPads/AirPrint. So the user "mobile" with blank/not entered password gives the same error on the job history screen.

 

Any advice would be very welcome! Many thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

* tried using different model printers and iPads and all have the same issue.

[Cazale]

Setup an IP range that bypasses authentication (on the printer), then put the iPads on static IPs within that IP range.

[Cazale]

On the web interface, it's in "User Auth/Account Track", "Print without authentication". Set IP filtering to enabled, and then put in the static range you want to use.

[toffee_paul]

Hi Cazele, thanks for the reply... I'd forgot to mention that I'd already tried the Print without Authentication option on the printer... I set the iPad with a static IP and then set a range on the printer that meant the iPad should bypass the authentication. Unfortunately this didn't work either. At a loss as to why this is happening.

[Cazale]

Have you got Print without Authentication set to "Full Color/Black" (or "Allowed" on some devices) + IP Filtering on "Enabled"?

 

Also, have you turned Airprint on in the network menu?

[Cazale]

Oh, and do you have Account Tracking enabled?

[toffee_paul]

Print without Authentication is set to "Full Color/Black" and IP filtering is "Enabled".

 

Account Tracking is disabled, only User Authentication is enabled and we authenticate using little round blue plastic fobs.

[Cazale]

Print without Authentication is set to "Full Color/Black" and IP filtering is "Enabled".

 

Account Tracking is disabled, only User Authentication is enabled and we authenticate using little round blue plastic fobs.

 

Assuming AirPrint is turned on (which I'm guessing it must be if you're able to see the printer on the iPad), that all sounds fine. I'd possibly start to suspect the iPad isn't in the correct range. Are you able to see the IP of the iPad anywhere in the logs?

[toffee_paul]

Sorry yes, AirPrint is on. I can see the iPad on netscan using an IP within the range I've set.

[Cazale]

Hmm, not really sure I can suggest much else. Have Konica support being able to help? (I've generally found them to be pretty good).

 

A couple of thoughts:

 

Is IP6 enabled?

Have you set a IPv4 filtering? (in the network menu) and maybe not included the static range? (just checked one of mine and both include and exclude are off, so that should be fine too).

[toffee_paul]

IPv6 is enabled, worth trying with it disabled ? Filtering is not set for IPv4, Restrict and Permit are both disabled.

 

The printers are leased but I'll get in touch with Konica and see if they can shed any light.

 

Many thanks for your help, Cazale.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

IPv6 is enabled, worth trying with it disabled ? Filtering is not set for IPv4, Restrict and Permit are both disabled.

 

The printers are leased but I'll get in touch with Konica and see if they can shed any light.

 

Many thanks for your help, Cazale.

[Cazale]

Could be worth disabling IPv6 (assuming you entered an IPv4 range in IP Filtering)!

[toffee_paul]

Hallelujah! Disabled IPv6 not really expecting it to work but it has!

 

Thank you Cazale! Now I must ask the question... why does printing from an iPad using AirPrint to a Konica Minolta printer only seem to work for us when IPv6 is switched off?

 

Guessing only Konica themselves can answer that I'm just glad it's up and running.

 

Can you see any downsides to not having IPv6 enabled?

 

 

Thanks

 

!

[Cazale]

I'm guessing that you entered an IPv4 address in the allow list but the printer is seeing the IPv6 address? (so continues to expect authentication). Glad you got it sorted.

 

Hallelujah! Disabled IPv6 not really expecting it to work but it has!

 

Thank you Cazale! Now I must ask the question... why does printing from an iPad using AirPrint to a Konica Minolta printer only seem to work for us when IPv6 is switched off?

 

Guessing only Konica themselves can answer that I'm just glad it's up and running.

 

Can you see any downsides to not having IPv6 enabled?

 

 

Thanks

 

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[toffee_paul]

Hi Cazale,

 

I've actually re-enaled IPv6 and the AirPrint still worked. What I did at the same time as disabling IPv6 was set a ENABLE/ALLOW IPv4 IP Filtering range covering the internal network. Previously this wasn't set as it's never been needed. So it looks like setting a range in the IPv4 IP Filtering fixed the issue, combined with the Print without Authentication setting. When I assigned a static IP to the iPad that fell outside the Print without Auth IP range, it failed to print, when I moved it back, it worked again. So a combination of both settings worked.

 

Still strange how it needs to have IPv4 IP Filtering range set up... would have thought the printer would be able to automatically tell what the range is without explicitly needing to define it.

 

Thanks again!