Wireless network setup

[Note]

Make sure your machine supports wireless networking. Wireless networking may not be available depending on the model (see Features by models).

Getting started

Understanding your network type

Typically, you can only have one connection between your computer and the machine at a time.

Infrastructure mode

This is an environment generally used for homes and SOHOs (Small Office/ Home Office). This mode uses an access point to communicate with the wireless machine.

Ad hoc mode

This mode does not use an access point. The wireless computer and wireless machine communicate directly.

Wireless network name and Network Password

Wireless networks require higher security, so when an access point is first set up, a network name (SSID), the type of security used, and a Network Password are created for the network. Ask your network administrator about this information before proceeding with the machine installation.

Introducing wireless set up methods

You can set wireless settings either from the machine or the computer. Choose the setting method from the below table.

[Note]

Some wireless network installation types may not be available depending on the model or country.

Set up method

Connecting method

Description & Reference

With Access Point

From the computer

Windows user, see Access point via USB cable (recommended).

Mac user, see Access point via USB cable (recommended).

From the machine’s control panel

See Using the Wireless Protected Setup button .

Without Access Point

From the computer

Windows user, see Ad hoc via USB cable.

Mac user, see Ad hoc via USB cable.

[Note]
  • If problems occur during wireless set up or driver installation, refer to the troubleshooting chapter (see Troubleshooting).

  • It is strongly recommended that you set the password on Access Points. If you do not set the password on Access Points, they might be exposed to illegal access from unknown machines including PCs, smart phones and printers. Refer to the Access Point user' guide for password settings.

Using the Wireless Protected Setup button

If your machine and an access point (or wireless router) support Wireless Protected Setup, you can easily configure the wireless network settings by pressing the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel without a computer.

[Note]
  • If you want to use the wireless network using the infrastructure mode, make sure that the network cable is disconnected from the machine. Using the Wireless Protected Setup (PBC) button or entering the PIN from the computer to connect to the access point (or wireless router) varies depending on the access point (or wireless router) you are using. Refer to the user's guide of the access point (or wireless router) you are using.

  • When using the Wireless Protected Setup button to set the wireless network, security settings may change. To prevent this, lock the Wireless Protected Setup option for the current wireless security settings. The option name may differ depending on the access point (or wireless router) you are using.

Items to prepare

  • Check if the access point (or wireless router) supports Wireless Protected Setup.

  • Check if your machine supports Wireless Protected Setup.

  • Networked computer (PIN mode only)

Choosing your type

There are two methods available to connect your machine to a wireless network using the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel.

The Push Button Configuration (PBC) method allows you to connect your machine to a wireless network by pressing both the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel of your machine and the Wireless Protected Setup (PBC) button on a Wireless Protected Setup enabled access point (or wireless router) respectively.

The Personal Identification Number (PIN) method helps you connect your machine to a wireless network by entering the supplied PIN information on a Wireless Protected Setup enabled access point (or wireless router).

Factory default in your machine is PBC mode, which is recommended for a typical wireless network environment.

Connecting in PBC mode

  1. Press and hold the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel for about 2 - 4 seconds until the online/error LED blinks quickly.

    The machine starts connecting to the wireless network. The LED blinks slowly for up to two minutes until you press the PBC button on the access point (or wireless router).

  2. Press the PBC button on the access point (or wireless router).

    1. The light blinks fast on the Wireless Protected Setup LED. The machine is connecting to the access point (or wireless router).

    2. When the machine is successfully connected to the wireless network, the Wireless Protected Setup LED light stays on.

  3. Insert the supplied CD into the CD-ROM drive and proceed to install the software following the directions on the screen.

Connecting in PIN mode

  1. The network configuration report, including PIN, must be printed (see Printing a network configuration report).

    In ready mode, press and hold the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel for about 10 seconds. You can find your machine’s PIN.

  2. Press and hold the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel for more than 4 seconds until the online/error LED stays on.

    The machine starts connecting to the access point (or wireless router).

  3. You need to enter the eight-digit PIN within two minutes on the computer that is connected to the access point (or wireless router).

    The LED blinks slowly for up to two minutes until you enter the eight-digit PIN.

    The Wireless Protected Setup LED blinks in the order below:

    1. The light blinks fast on the Wireless Protected Setup LED. The machine is connecting to the access point (or wireless router).

    2. When the machine is successfully connected to the wireless network, the Wireless Protected Setup LED light stays on.

  4. Insert the supplied CD into the CD-ROM drive and proceed to install the software following the directions on the screen.

Re-connecting to a network

When the wireless function is off, the machine automatically tries to re-connect to the access point (or wireless router) with the previously used wireless connection settings and address.

[Note]

In the following cases, the machine automatically re-connects to the wireless network:

  • The machine is turned off and on again.

  • The access point (or wireless router) is turned off and on again.

Canceling the connection process

To cancel the wireless network connection when the machine is connecting to the wireless network, press and release the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel. You need to wait 2 minutes to re-connect to the wireless network.

Disconnecting from a network

To disconnect the wireless network connection, press the (Wireless Protected Setup) button on the control panel for more than two seconds.

  • When the Wireless network is in idle mode: The machine is immediately disconnected from the wireless network and the Wireless Protected Setup LED turns off.

  • When the Wireless network is being used: While the machine waits until the current job is finished, the light blinks fast on the Wireless Protected Setup LED. Then, the wireless network connection is automatically disconnected and the Wireless Protected Setup LED turns off.

Setup using Windows

[Note]

Shortcut to the Lenovo Easy Wireless Setup program without the CD: If you have installed the printer driver once, you can access the Lenovo Easy Wireless Setup program without the CD (see Accessing management tools).

Access point via USB cable (recommended)

Items to prepare
  • Access point

  • Network-connected computer

  • Software CD that was provided with your machine

  • A machine installed with a wireless network interface

  • USB cable

Creating the infrastructure network
  1. Check wheter the USB cable is connected to the machine.

  2. Turn on your computer, access point, and machine.

  3. Insert the supplied software CD into your CD-ROM drive.

    If the installation window does not appear, click Start > All programs > Accessories > Run.

    X:\Setup.exe replacing “X” with the letter, which represents your CD-ROM drive and click OK.

    • For Windows 8,

      If the installation window does not appear, from Charms, select Search > Apps and search for Run. Type in X:\Setup.exe, replacing “X” with the letter that represents your CD-ROM drive and click OK.

      If “Tap to choose what happens with this disc.” pop-up window appears, click the window and select Run Setup.exe.

  4. Review and accept the installation agreements in the installation window. Then, click Next.

  5. Select Wireless network connection on the Printer Connection Type screen. Then, click Next.

  6. On the Are you setting up your printer for the first time? screen, select Yes, I will set up my printer's wireless network. Then, click Next.

    If your printer is already connected on the network, select No, my printer is already connected to my network.

  7. After searching, the window shows the wireless network devices. Select the name (SSID) of the access point you want to use and click Next.

    [Note]

    If you cannot find the network name you want to choose, or if you want to set the wireless configuration manually, click Advanced Setting.

    • Enter the wireless Network NameEnter the SSID of the access point (SSID is case-sensitive).

    • Operation ModeSelect Infrastructure.

    • AuthenticationSelect an authentication type.

      Open SystemAuthentication is not used, and encryption may or may not be used, depending on the need for data security.

      Shared KeyAuthentication is used. A device that has a proper WEP key can access the network.

      WPA Personal or WPA2 PersonalSelect this option to authenticate the print server based on a WPA Pre-Shared Key. This uses a shared secret key (generally called Pre Shared Key pass phrase), which is manually configured on the access point and each of its clients.

    • EncryptionSelect the encryption (None, WEP64, WEP128, TKIP, AES, TKIP AES).

    • Network PasswordEnter the encryption network password value.

    • Confirm Network PasswordConfirm the encryption network password value.

    • WEP Key IndexIf you are using WEP Encryption, select the appropriate WEP Key Index.

    [Note]

    The wireless network security window appears when the access point has security settings.

    Enter the Network Password of the access point (or router).

  8. When the network connection window appears, disconnect the network cable. Then, click Next. The network cable connection can interfere with searching for wireless devices.

  9. If your printer supports Wireless P2P and this function is disabled, its corresponding screen will appears.

    If you want to enable Wireless P2P, check the checkbox, and click Next. If not, click just Next.

    [Note]
    • You can also start to build Wireless P2P by using LENOVO Easy Printer Manager.

    • Wireless P2P Name: The default Wireless P2P Name is the model name and the maximum length is 23 characters.

    • Password setting is the numeric string, and the size is 8 ~ 64 characters.

  10. When the wireless network set up is completed, disconnect the USB cable between the computer and machine. Click Next.

  11. Follow the instructions in the installation window.

Ad hoc via USB cable

If you do not have an access point (AP), you may still connect the machine wirelessly to your computer by setting up an ad-hoc wireless network by following the simple steps below.

Items to prepare
  • Network-connected computer

  • Software CD that was provided with your machine

  • A machine installed with a wireless network interface

  • USB cable

Creating the ad hoc network in Windows
  1. Turn on your computer and the wireless network machine.

  2. Insert the supplied software CD into your CD-ROM drive.

    If the installation window does not appear, click Start > All programs > Accessories > Run.

    X:\Setup.exe replacing “X” with the letter, which represents your CD-ROM drive and click OK.

    • For Windows 8,

      If the installation window does not appear, from Charms, select Search > Apps and search for Run. Type in X:\Setup.exe, replacing “X” with the letter that represents your CD-ROM drive and click OK.

      If “Tap to choose what happens with this disc.” pop-up window appears, click the window and select Run Setup.exe.

  3. Review and accept the installation agreements in the installation window. Then, click Next.

  4. Select Wireless network connection on the Printer Connection Type screen. Then, click Next.

  5. On the Are you setting up your printer for the first time? screen, select Yes, I will set up my printer's wireless network. Then, click Next.

    If your printer is already connected on the network, select No, my printer is already connected to my network.

  6. After searching the wireless networks, a list of wireless networks your machine has searched appears. Click Advanced Setting.

    [Note]
    • Enter the wireless Network NameEnter the SSID name you want (SSID is case-sensitive).

    • Operation ModeSelect ad hoc.

    • ChannelSelect the channel. (Auto Setting or 2412 MHz to 2467 MHz).

    • AuthenticationSelect an authentication type.

      Open SystemAuthentication is not used, and encryption may or may not be used, depending on the need for data security.

      Shared KeyAuthentication is used. A device that has a proper WEP key can access the network.

    • EncryptionSelect the encryption (None, WEP64, WEP128).

    • Network PasswordEnter the encryption network password value.

    • Confirm Network PasswordConfirm the encryption network password value.

    • WEP Key IndexIf you are using WEP Encryption, select the appropriate WEP Key Index.

    The wireless network security window appears when the ad hoc network has security enabled.

    Select Open System or Shared Key for the authentication and click Next.

    • WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is a security protocol preventing unauthorized access to your wireless network. WEP encrypts the data portion of each packet exchanged on a wireless network using a 64-bit or 128-bit WEP encryption key.

  7. The window showing the wireless network setting appears. Check the settings and click Next.

    [Note]

    Before entering the IP address for the machine, you must know the computer’s network configuration information. If the computer’s network configuration is set to DHCP, the wireless network setting should also be DHCP. Likewise, if the computer’s network configuration is set to Static, the wireless network setting should also be Static.

    If your computer is set to DHCP and you want to use the Static wireless network setting, you must contact the network administrator to get the static IP address.

    • For the DHCP method

      If the IP address assignment method is DHCP, check if DHCP is shown in the Wireless Network Setting Confirm window. If it shows Static, click Change TCP/IP to change the assignment method to Receive IP address automatically (DHCP).

    • For the Static method

      If the IP address assignment method is Static, check if Static is shown in the Wireless Network Setting Confirm window. If it shows DHCP, click Change TCP/IP to enter the IP address and other network configuration values for the machine.

      For example,

      If the computer’s network information is as shown follows:

      • IP address: 169.254.133.42

      • Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0

      Then, the machine’s network information should be as below:

      • IP address: 169.254.133.43

      • Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0 (Use the computer’s subnet mask.)

      • Gateway: 169.254.133.1

  8. The Wireless Network Setting Complete window appears. Click Next.

  9. When the wireless network settings are completed, disconnect the USB cable between the computer and machine. Click Next.

  10. Follow the instructions in the installation window.

Setup using Mac

Items to prepare

  • Access point

  • Network-connected computer

  • Software CD that was provided with your machine

  • A machine installed with a wireless network interface

  • USB cable

Access point via USB cable (recommended)

  1. Make sure that the machine is connected to your computer andpowered on.

  2. Insert the supplied software CD into your CD-ROM drive.

  3. Double-click the CD-ROM icon that appears on your Mac desktop.

    • For Mac OS X 10.8, double-click the CD-ROM that appears on Finder.

  4. Double-click the MAC_Installer folder > Installer OS X icon.

  5. Click Continue.

  6. Read the license agreement and click Continue.

  7. Click Agree to agree to the license agreement.

  8. Click Install. All components necessary for machine operations will be installed.

    If you click Customize, you can choose individual components to install.

  9. Enter the password and click OK.

  10. Select Configuration of Wireless network on the Printer Connection Type and click Continue.

  11. After searching, the window shows the wireless network devices. Select the name (SSID) of the access point you want to use and click Next.

    [Note]

    When you set the wireless configuration manually, click Advanced Setting.

    • Enter the wireless Network NameEnter the SSID of the access point (SSID is case-sensitive).

    • Operation ModeSelect Infrastructure.

    • AuthenticationSelect an authentication type.

      Open SystemAuthentication is not used, and encryption may or may not be used, depending on the need for data security.

      Shared KeyAuthentication is used. A device that has a proper WEP key can access the network.

      WPA Personal or WPA2 PersonalSelect this option to authenticate the print server based on the WPA Pre-Shared Key. This uses a shared secret key (generally called Pre Shared Key pass phrase) that is manually configured on the access point and each of its clients.

    • EncryptionSelect the encryption. (None, WEP64, WEP128, TKIP, AES, TKIP, AES)

    • Network PasswordEnter the encryption network password value.

    • Confirm Network PasswordConfirm the encryption network password value.

    • WEP Key IndexIf you are using WEP Encryption, select the appropriate WEP Key Index.

    The wireless network security window appears when the access point has security enabled.

    Enter the Network Password of the access point (or router).

  12. If your printer supports Wireless P2P and this function is disabled, its corresponding screen will appears.

    If you want to enable Wireless P2P, check the checkbox, and click Next. If not, click just Next.

    [Note]
    • You can also start to build Wireless P2P by using LENOVO Easy Printer Manager.

    • Wireless P2P Name: The default Wireless P2P Name is the model name and the maximum length is 23 characters.

    • Password setting is the numeric string, and the size is 8 ~ 64 characters.

  13. When the wireless network settings are completed, disconnect the USB cable between the computer and machine.

  14. Wireless network set up is completed. After the installation is finished, click Quit.

    [Note]

    After completing the wireless network connection, you need to install a machine driver to print from an application (see Installation for Mac).

Ad hoc via USB cable

If you do not have an access point (AP), you may still connect the machine wirelessly to your computer by setting up an ad hoc wireless network by following these simple directions.

Items to prepare
  • Network-connected computer

  • Software CD that was provided with your machine

  • A machine installed with a wireless network interface

  • USB cable

Creating the ad hoc network in Mac
  1. Make sure that the machine is connected to your computer andpowered on.

  2. Insert the supplied software CD into your CD-ROM drive.

  3. Double-click the CD-ROM icon that appears on your Mac desktop.

    • For Mac OS X 10.8, double-click the CD-ROM that appears on Finder.

  4. Double-click the MAC_Installer folder > Installer OS X icon.

  5. Click Continue.

  6. Read the license agreement and click Continue.

  7. Click Agree to agree to the license agreement.

  8. Click Install. All components necessary for machine operations will be installed.

    If you click Customize, you can choose individual components to install.

  9. Enter the password and click OK.

  10. Select Configuration of Wireless network on the Printer Connection Type and click Continue.

  11. After searching the wireless networks, a list of wireless networks your machine has searched appears. Click Advanced Setting.

    [Note]
    • Enter the wireless Network NameEnter the SSID name (SSID is case-sensitive).

    • Operation ModeSelect ad hoc.

    • ChannelSelect the channel (Auto Setting or 2412 MHz to 2467 MHz).

    • AuthenticationSelect an authentication type.

      Open SystemAuthentication is not used, and encryption may or may not be used, depending on the need for data security.

      Shared KeyAuthentication is used. A device that has a proper WEP key can access the network.

    • EncryptionSelect the encryption (None, WEP64, WEP128).

    • Network PasswordEnter the encryption network password value.

    • Confirm Network PasswordConfirm the encryption network password value.

    • WEP Key IndexIf you are using WEP Encryption, select the appropriate WEP Key Index.

    The wireless network security window appears when the ad hoc network has security setting.

    Select Open System or Shared Key for the authentication and click Next.

    • WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is a security protocol preventing unauthorized access to your wireless network. WEP encrypts the data portion of each packet exchanged on a wireless network using a 64-bit or 128-bit WEP encryption key.

  12. The window showing the wireless network settings appears. Check the settings and click Next.

    [Note]

    Before entering the IP address for the machine, you must know the computer’s network configuration information. If the computer’s network configuration is set to DHCP, the wireless network setting should also be DHCP. Likewise, if the computer’s network configuration is set to Static, the wireless network setting should also be Static.

    If your computer is set to DHCP and you want to use Static wireless network setting, you must contact the network administrator to get the static IP address.

    • For the DHCP method

      If the IP address assignment method is DHCP, check if DHCP is shown in the Wireless Network Setting Confirm window. If it shows Static, click Change TCP/IP to change the assignment method to Receive IP address automatically (DHCP).

    • For the Static method

      If the IP address assignment method is Static, check if Static is shown in the Wireless Network Setting Confirm window. If it shows DHCP, click Change TCP/IP to enter the IP address and other network configuration values for the machine.

      For example,

      If the computer’s network information is shown as follows:

      • IP address: 169.254.133.42

      • Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0

      Then, the machine’s network information should be as shown below:

      • IP address: 169.254.133.43

      • Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0 (Use the computer’s subnet mask.)

      • Gateway: 169.254.133.1

  13. When the window that tells you that the network cable connection is confirmed appears, disconnect the network cable and click Next.

    If the network cable is connected, it may have trouble finding the machine when configuring the wireless network.

  14. The wireless network connects according to the network configuration.

  15. Wireless network set up is completed. After installation is finished, click Quit.

    [Note]

    After completing the wireless network connection, you need to install a machine driver to print from an application (see Installation for Mac).

Turning the Wireless network on/off

  1. Start a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox and enter your machine’s new IP address in the browser window.

    For example,

  2. Click Login on the upper right of the LENOVO Embedded Web Service website.

  3. Type in the ID and Password, then click Login.

    • IDadmin

    • Passwordlenovo00000

  4. When the LENOVO Embedded Web Service window opens, click Network Settings.

  5. Click Wireless > Custom.

    You can also turn the Wireless network on/off.

Troubleshooting

Problems during setup or driver installation

Printers Not Found
  • Your machine may not be turned on. Turn on your computer and the machine.

  • USB cable is not connected between your computer and machine. Connect the machine to your computer using the USB cable.

  • The machine does not support wireless networking. Check the machine's user's guide included on the software CD supplied with your machine and prepare a wireless network machine.

Connecting Failure - SSID Not Found
  • The machine is unable to find the network name (SSID) you have selected or entered. Check the network name (SSID) on your access point and try connecting again.

  • Your access point is not turned on. Turn on your access point.

Connecting Failure - Invalid Security
  • Security is not configured correctly. Check the configured security on your access point and machine.

Connecting Failure - General Connection Error
  • Your computer is not receiving a signal from your machine. Check the USB cable and your machine’s power.

Connecting Failure - Connected Wired Network
  • Your machine is connected with a wired network cable. Remove the wired network cable from your machine.

PC Connection Error
  • The configured network address is unable to connect between your computer and machine.

    • For a DHCP network environment

      The receives the IP address automatically (DHCP) when computer is configured to DHCP.

    • For a Static network environment

      The machine uses the static address when the computer is configured to static address.

      For example,

      If the computer’s network information is as shown below:

      • IP address: 169.254.133.42

      • Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0

      Then the machine’s network information should be as below:

      • IP address: 169.254.133.43

      • Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0 (Use the computer’s subnet mask.)

      • Gateway: 169.254.133.1

Other problems

If problems occur while using the machine on a network, check the following:

[Note]

For information on the access point (or wireless router), refer to its own user's guide.

  • You cannot enable wired and wireless networks at the same time.

  • Your computer, access point (or wireless router), or machine may not be turned on.

  • Check the wireless reception around the machine. If the router is far from the machine or there is an obstacle, you might have difficulty receiving the signal.

  • Cycle the power for the access point (or wireless router), machine, and computer. Sometimes cycling the power can recover network communication.

  • Check whether firewall software (V3 or Norton) is blocking the communication.

    If the computer and the machine are connected on the same network and it cannot be found when searching, firewall software might be blocking the communication. Refer to the user's guide for the software to turn it off and try searching for the machine again.

  • Check whether the machine's IP address is allocated correctly. You can check the IP address by printing the network configuration report.

  • Check whether the access point (or wireless router) has a configured security (password). If it has a password, refer to the access point (or wireless router) administrator.

  • Check the machine's IP address. Reinstall the machine driver and change the settings to connect to the machine on the network. Due to the characteristics of DHCP, the allocated IP address could change if the machine is not used for a long time or if the access point has been reset.

    Register the product's MAC address when you configure the DHCP server on the access point (or wireless router). Then you can always use the IP address that is set with the MAC address. You can identify the MAC address of your machine by printing a network configuration report (see Printing a network configuration report).

  • Check the wireless environment. You might not be able to connect to the network in the infrastructure environment where you need to type in a user's information before connecting to the access point (or wireless router).

  • This machine only supports IEEE 802.11 b/g/n and Wireless. Other wireless communication types (e.g., Bluetooth) are not supported.

  • When using the ad hoc mode, in operating systems such as Windows Vista, you might need to set the wireless connection setting every time you use the wireless machine.

  • You cannot use infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode at the same time for Lenovo wireless network machines.

  • The machine is within the range of the wireless network.

  • The machine is located away from obstacles that could block the wireless signal.

    Remove any large metal objects between the access point (or wireless router) and the machine.

    Make sure the machine and wireless access point (or wireless router) are not separated by poles, walls, or support columns containing metal or concrete.

  • The machine is located away from other electronic devices that may interfere with the wireless signal.

    Many devices can interfere with the wireless signal, including a microwave oven and some Bluetooth devices.

  • Whenever the configuration of your access point (or wireless router) changes, you must do the product's wireless network setup again.

  • The maximum number of devices that can be connected via Wireless Direct is 3.

  • If Wireless Direct is ON, this machine only supports IEEE 802.11 b/g.

  • If the access point is set to work with the 802.11n standard only, it may not connect to your machine.