I was having some issues with my Canon printers disappearing from the network and my TP-Link smart plugs also losing their connection. I spent a lot of time trying to solve this problem because I rely upon both the printer and my smart plugs. In the end, after restarting, resetting to factory specs and a lot of surfing around for answers, I found that giving them a static IP addrsss solved the problem.
Static IP addresses have many benefits, including:
- ReliabilityStatic IP addresses are fixed, so devices with them are always accessible and have consistent connectivity. This makes them ideal for devices that need to be available all the time, like servers and printers.
- SecurityStatic IP addresses can be used to enhance security by allowing for more precise control over network traffic. For example, security teams can add static addresses to firewall rules to block everything else.
- Improved performanceStatic IP addresses can improve network performance by reducing latency and improving response times.
- Accurate geolocationStatic IP addresses provide access to precise geolocation data, which can be useful for businesses to manage incidents and detect attacks.
- Remote accessStatic IP addresses make it easier to remotely access devices, such as security cameras and remote desktop programs.
- DNS supportStatic IP addresses work well with DNS and are better for anything requiring VoIP protocol, like video chat.
- International operationsStatic IP addresses can be chosen in any geophysical location, making them a flexible choice for international operations.
It was easy to do and should only be used for critical items but if you go to the router management software for whichever router you are using you should see a list of the clients. In my case, I was sorta surprised at just how many I have. I have 79 clients on my network including switches, Sonos gear, lighting and refrigerators (!).
I use an Amplifi mesh network and I just go to the App and select the device I want to assign a Static IP to and the increased stability is immediate after I restart the router.
If you have problems keeping that printer on your net, try assigning a static IP.