How do I change a printers workgroup??? HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A Plus

Question

Hi   I purchased a new printer direct from HP, a HP-OfficeJet Pro 8500 Plus.
My setup has 5 PC's 3 servers & 1 laptop. Hard-wired network & 2 wireless networks. 2 Network Hubs and 1 ADSL2 Modem/Router This is a pro setup and I am a very experienced user.
I have had this printer for a couple of weeks and have spent many hours checking and re-checking the settings and testing everything. I also tried setting up a wireless connection and it resulted in the same faults. I was under the illusion that a company as big as HP should know how to build a printer by now and that it must be my fault. It isn't???
My networks are setup with static IP's as I find it much easier to solve problems and monitor connections, especially in this case. I even tried a totally separate network just for testing this printer.
I have installed the printer with a static IP and proceeded to enter the DNS
1st  Problem - The DNS setting does not accept 2 external addresses, but it will accept one internal and one external.
Finished installation and my PC found the network printer, However, it disappeared. So I checked using HP's Diagnostic utility and it was found and I looked at the advanced settings. Everything appears ok. So I ran a network scanner and low and behold the problem was revealed. 
2nd Problem -  The printer is connected to MSHOME workgroup,
which I do not use. So that's ok I will change it.??!!?!? Where? There are no advanced settings for the workgroup probably on the assumption that the printer will detect it. It doesn't! This does however explain why the printer appears and disappears.
I have spent the last few days reading posts and it would appear that printers disappearing is a common occurence.
May I suggest that this fault may well be the problem, not just for this printer but for other network printers?!?
Does anyone know how to change the printers workgroup settings? I have used all the HP utilities and can not find a way of doing it. Does anyone know of a suitable tool or what HP use to connect to the printers and what language it is?
3rd Problem - ePrint cannot connect to the printer? I suspect this too will be solved when the workgroup & DNS is corrected.
If you have a default workgroup then the printer will work fine. I don't, so it doesn't!
This printer probably works fine for a home user with default settings and DHCP connections anything more and problems are encountered.
What is required is an advanced utility (or altering the current Network Diagnostics one) that allows us to change all aspects of the network connection, not just some of them. Relying on DHCP settings and standard default settings is no good. 
Possible additions or alterations required are:   (Think router options with printer settings)
The choice of either static IP, auto IP address or DHCP
DNS settings for 2, but preferably 4 with all accepting external DNS addresses without throwing up faults.
IP Range (if applicable)
Preferred workgroup (if applicable)
Default Gateway & Subnet
Connection Type
Broadcast options
uPNP options
Print manager (with current connections and /or jobs)
4th Problem - The web interface throws up faults even when the information is correct.
The only option then is to enter it through the printers interface, which is limited, but it will accept the information.
I suspect most of the problems may be fixed by a firmware update. Lets hope there is one soon with all the required bits added.  If you think what I have written is a load of rubbish then feel free to comment and any useful options or fixes would be very welcome.
Knowledge is what we know, Intelligence is what we understand.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, the installation software for OfficeJet printers is incapable of 'finding' the printer on a peer-to-peer network, if:
 - there isn't a DHCP server;
 - if assignment of IP addresses for network devices is performed manualy, or
 - if your peer-to-peer network's NetBIOS Group / Workgroup name is anything other than "MSHOME"
This last item appears to be a hard-wired configuration on every HP OfficeJet.
To provide even more frustration, HP provides a "Update IP Address" tool. 
However, even though its printer can be 'pinged', and command line utilities (below) clearly show the printer existing on the network, the printer cannot be "located" by this tool, as HP's hard-wired NetBIOS Group / Workgroup name does not match the Workgroup name our firm uses.
Having a manufacturer decree that users must change the configuration of every device on their network to accommodate use of its product is unacceptable.
This is a relatively easy fix, HP.