How to Fix HP Color Laser 150nw Printer Connectivity on Linux

Select Language:

If you’ve recently updated your HP Color Laser 150nw printer’s firmware and now find it unreachable on your Linux Mint system, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Firmware updates can sometimes cause connectivity issues, especially when they don’t align perfectly with your system’s setup. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and fix the problem.

First, confirm that your printer is powered on and connected to your network. Since you’re using Ethernet, check the cable and connection status. Open the printer’s web interface via its IP address in a browser to ensure it still shows as ready and without alerts. If it looks fine there, move on to your computer.

Next, double-check the printer’s network settings on your Linux Mint. You can do this through CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System). Go to your browser and visit http://localhost:631 to access CUPS. From there, try removing the printer completely and then re-adding it. When adding, select ‘Add Printer’ and choose the networked printer listed under the IP or hostname. Use the correct IP address and select the proper driver—preferably the Linux driver for HP LaserJet 150nw.

If you encounter a “CUPS Server Error” again, try switching the protocol during setup. Usually, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) or Raw TCP (Port 9100) works best. Ensure that these protocols are enabled on your printer’s network settings. Since your printer is configured with IPv4 and standard protocols, matching those on your Linux system is key.

Another helpful tip is to verify your firewall settings. Even with a “allow all” rule, it’s worthwhile to temporarily disable the firewall to ensure it’s not blocking communication. Remember, the Linux firewall or any network security software might interfere.

Sometimes, the printer’s latest firmware might change or reset some network configurations. Reboot both the printer and your router to refresh their network states. Also, ensure mDNS (Bonjour or zeroconf) is enabled if you’re relying on hostname or network discovery.

If you still see no printer in the network scan, try to ping the printer’s IP address from your Linux system to confirm it’s reachable. Open a Terminal window and type ping [printer IP]. If there’s no reply, the printer might need a manual IP address reconfiguration or might have lost network connectivity due to the firmware update.

Lastly, confirm you’re using the latest HP Linux drivers. You already installed them, which is great. But sometimes, removing and reinstalling the drivers helps. Use your package manager or driver utility to do this.

In conclusion, firmware updates can sometimes alter network settings, causing printers to become inaccessible. By verifying network connectivity, resetting configurations, switching protocols during setup, and ensuring firewall rules are not blocking communication, you should be able to restore your printer’s functionality. If issues persist, contacting HP support or checking their online forums for firmware-specific bugs might be necessary.