Introduction

This article will deal with the issues with wireless printers on the University of Alberta wireless networks.

Applicability

The article applies to anyone on the University of Alberta Campuses using the University of Alberta wireless networks

Procedure   

        There are several issues with connecting a wireless printer to the University of Alberta wireless networks. The following are some of the issues identified:

• Consumer-based printers often support only WPA2-Personal wireless security.  As such printers which only support WPA2-Personal security cannot be connected to eduroam or UWS wireless networks.  Eduroam and UWS supports WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise for wireless security
  
  

• The University of Alberta wireless networks uses Client Isolation, which prevents devices connected to directly communicate with other devices connected to the wireless network.  This will also prevent any device from being able to send print jobs to a wireless printer.  Without Client Isolation the printer would be exposed to all users on the wireless network, which range from 48000 to 50000 devices at the peak of the day, and potentially discoverable and available for use.
  
  

• The University of Alberta wireless network uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to assign IP addresses to devices connected to wireless.  We DO NOT assign Static IP addresses on the wireless networks. 

Printers are an infrastructure device, when purchasing a printer for the campus please confirm that the printer has multiple options to connect to for printing, such as USB and Ethernet.  The Ethernet port is for group printing and the USB Port for a single office.

The other option, which is not supported by IST, is for a cloud based print server service to be used.  This printer will need to communicate with the cloud server and download waiting jobs to the printer. Print jobs cannot be pushed from the cloud to a printer on the campus network.