"Network host busy" error

Hi, everyone. I have trawled this discussion list and followed all the advice available to no avail. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
The background is as follows:
MacBook Pro, 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 duo, 2GB RAM, currently running OSX 10.6.2. Software up to date. Previously on OSX 10.4.11 until 4 weeks ago. Printing to a networked HP 4100 with a fixed IP address in the office worked fine until last week, when a "Network host busy error, trying again in 30 seconds" error arose. Printing from the other workstations (iMacs on 10.6.2) on the network continues to proceed normally. Steps I have taken include deleting the HP4100 print queue and re-installing (several times) as IP>HPJetDirect socket to 192.168.1.100. Clearly the printer is online (it says so) and is identified as the correct printer driver is selected automatically (HP LaserJet 4100 series v 3010.107) and all the configurable options are correctly selected (trays 2,3 & 4, envelope feeder and duplex option) and toner supply levels are correctly read. Still get network host busy error. Rebooted the printer. No avail. Rebooted the router. No avail. Reinstalled HP printer drivers from here: http://support.apple.com/downloads/#printer%20drivers%20mac%20os%20x%20v10.6. No avail. Have also reset the printing system (losing all the other print queues in the process!) to no avail. Checked the printer setup on the iMacs that can print, and it is identical to that which I am attempting to install. Have I missed something? Anyone with any clues, please?

Hi there,
If you have your HP printer queue configured exactly the same as other Mac's that are working fine, and with all the steps you have taken thus far, then I can only suggest that you either have a network issue or something blocking the path.
So first thing is to check that you are set to the same subnet as the other Mac's. This can be confirmed via the Network Utility under the Info pane. You may have to change the drop menu from Ethernet (en0) to Airport (en1) depending on what you use. Typically the first three sets of numbers of your IP address is your subnet, while the last number is your network address. So, based on the printers address of 192.168.1.100, your Mac should have a subnet of 192.168.1 and a network address other than 100.
If the IP address for your Mac is set to the same subnet as the HP then while Network Utility is still open, select the Ping tab, enter the IP address of 192.168.1.100, set the number of Pings to 4 and press the Ping button. You should get a response from the printer.
If you do get a response then it is safe to assume that the network setup on your Mac is okay. At this stage I would check that your Firewall is disabled (located in System Preferences > Security).
If the firewall is not enabled then my last suggestion is to create another printer queue to the HP, this time selecting IP > LPD for the protocol. Since HP wrote Socket then it is odd that it would not be working, but a network host busy would indicate that the Mac cannot either communicate with the IP address or the Port of the selected IP address. By changing the protocol from HP Socket to LPD you are basically setting the Mac to connect on port 515 instead of 9100.
Note that if the other Mac's show the print queue URL as "socket://192.168.1.100/" then they are using HP Jetdirect also so it would make no sense that your connection to the same port would fail. But it can't hurt trying an alternate protocol when you have tried everything else...
HTH and reply if needed.
Pahu

Similar Messages

How I fixed the 'network host busy" error

I've been down for a day solving the "network host busy' error.
First, I had fits trying to hook up this HP to my system. Here's the thread on that:
http://forums.techguy.org/networking/858081-laserjet-4500-mac-osx-10-a.html
Once all that was done, it was working.
The system was off and sometimes unplugged over the course of the evening.
I could not get it to work again.
It turned out that somehow during the course of events, the ip number of the printer had changed. I printed out the configuration page directly from the printer's configuration menu, and reset the ip address to match the new one.
Protocol in this case was HP Jet Direct socket.
Hope that helps someone out there. It looks like there are a lot of people tearing their hair out over this message and that there is no one solution.

I just found a solution to this problem and thought I would post it here, too.
I'm using a HP Photosmart C7280 with 10.6.1
Ever since updating to Snow Leopard, I kept receiving the "Network host busy" message. Today, I thought I would try running the network wizard feature on the printer itself, and after the printer connected to my router and I entered the password, the problem fixed itself. No more error message.
I'm not sure if this will work for everyone, but it did for me. Such an easy solution for such a headache-inducing problem.
Message was edited by: TNTWhite

IP Printing Network Host Busy Error

I have a Dell color laser on our Novell LAN that I've always been able to print to from my PowerBook using the printer's IP address. Today I found a new PPD for that printer and installed it, now I can't print. I get this error:
"Network host 'nameofhost' is busy; will retry in 30 seconds . . ."
I can ping the printer and it's there. I can check the supply levels and it shows the correct levels. If I turn the printer off, I can no longer ping it or show the levels, so I know it's connecting correctly. I put the old PPD back in and I still get the same network busy error. I get the same error no matter which application I print from. Everything is set up the same as before, and it's setup the same as all the other printers I can print to. I can print to other printers on the network using the same method. I can print to this printer using my Windows PC and it works fine, so I know the printer/queue itself is not down.
If I had any hair, I would pull it out.
PowerBook G4 17 1.67GHz 1.5Gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.6) Novell LAN printing via IP, Dell 5100cn Color Laser using correct PPD

Greg:
You gave me the hint that fixed it. I was setting up the new printer in SysPrefs using IPP protocol, but the printer was set up to accept LPD protocol. I changed it and now it works great. Thanks a bunch!!

Network host busy printing error - my solution

Rant first. My wife's old PC laptop finally died so I bought her a new Macbook (full Mac household now). Setting things up didn't go too bad (except dealing with Microsoft's BKF backup format). Lastly, I needed to add the printer which hangs off the Airport. The printer is a Brother MFC-8820D which worked fine from my Macbook Pro for the last three years. I could not get the printer working - always host busy. I tried LPD and IPP through the Settings, and then tried many more variations through CUPS (http://localhost:631/). No luck. The Apple website was very unhelpful; it has basic information and then intimates that it is the printer manufacturers problem EVEN IF IT WORKS DIRECTLY USING USB! Simply googling the topic shows that plenty of people have/had the same problem. Its obvious to me that the problem seems to be with the recent versions of OS X. My old Macbook Pro was upgraded through the problem and kept the correct settings.
I feel better now.
Anyway, here is finally how I resolved my problem.
1 Boot Airport (may be optional, but I needed to do it)
2 Connect to CUPS (http://localhost:631/)
3 Click Administration tab
4 Click Find New Printers
5 Click Add This Printer when it pops up
Note that no printers will be seen if you are not logged in. Login user name is probably first name followed by last name in all lower case. It won't ask you to log in until you try to change something. Trying to add a printer should bring up the login window.
My Airport printer popped up here and allowed me to add it. Worked perfectly afterwards. I tried this before booting the Airport but it did not show up then.
Hope it helps.

I found a solution. It works with this configuration:
Protocol: HP Jetdirect - Socket
Adress: socket://foo-host:9100
Queue:
i.e. you can leave it blank.

How to resolve "network host busy; will retry" message?

There was a thread on this question about a year ago but it didn't look like it was clearly resolved and I am running into the situation...
Prior to yesterday, my configuration was as follows: an iMac and a Windows laptop connected to a wireless network via an Airport Extreme Base Station; connected to the Extreme Base Station is a Brother printer.
Yesterday, I extended the wireless network with an Airport Express.
Now, I can still print on the Brother printer via the Windows laptop, which is located close to the Airport Express. However, I can no longer print from the iMac, which is located very close to the Extreme Base Station. Whenever I try printing, I get a message stating that the network host is busy and it will retry in 30 seconds.
Has anybody been able to resolve this issue?

I incorrectly set up the printer to use IPP , rather than LPD.

Network host busy on USB connected printer

Appreciate any advice or tips. I have a HP Photosmart C4200 plugged via USB to iMac running 10.6.4, prints fine, and print sharing is on. From my MacBook Pro running 10.5.8 I can connect to the printer using hostname-iMac.local. No documents (Word, notepad, etc.) will successfully print from MBP to printer on iMac, all attempts result in Network Host "hostname" is busy; will retry in .....seconds. Seems like this should be simple, what have I done to complicate it? Thanks.

Only the print function is supported when a multi-function device is connected to the USB port on an AirPort router.
Advanced features like scan, copy, maintenance, etc are not supported at the USB port.

HT1218 What causes error "Network Host 192.16x.0.1 is busy. Will retry in 30 seconds."

Wireless Printer error shows network host as busy. Cannot reconfigure to re-connect. It was printing ok. Then I tried to scan a doc and then it wouldn't print again. I have internet access. Receive email, etc. Tried reinstalling the printer software several times. Printer says it has successfully completed connection to the Router. But I continue to get the error "Network Host is busy. Will retry in 30 seconds." And it never prints. Also, printer config option is greyed out.
1. What root cause generates that error message?
2. What settings should I reconfigure?
3. How do I re-configure settings?
I am not a techie...a busy frustrated Grandma at home. Need step by step, just to get to the right menu.
Thanks for help.

Hi Greg:
Thanks for the response.
Sorry, I'm using IPP. As an experiment, I printed a test page from Firefox running locally on the server, and that prints fine. So I have pointed CUPS at the right printer driver.
The other thing I've tried is to reset the printing system on the iMac by control-clicking in the area below the listed printer in the Print & Fax dialog and saying yes to "are you sure" when it warns about resetting the printing system. That leaves a blank pane. Then I started Word,
and invoked print. It came up with no printer selected, but offered a choice of the HP. When I select that, I see messages about gathering printer info (I expect that's Bonjour doing its thing), and the printer re-appears in the Print and Fax pane. When I "Print", I'm back to the usual problem.
Do you think I have something set incorrectly in the router?
Thanks.

When attempting to print with HP P2015 cabled to AirPort Extreme, error message is "Network host (name) is busy". What's happening?

When attempting to print with an HP P2015 cabled to an AirPort Extreme, the network won't connect to printer. The Print Que message is "Network host (name) is busy; will retry in (number) seconds." When I delete the file to be printed, the Print Queue screen says "Printer Ready".
More Information:
The printer's Queue Name is Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet P2015 Series
The Location is "(my name) AirPort Extreme"
URL is "Hewlett_Packard%20%HP%20LaserJet%20P2015%20Series._pdl-datastream._tcp.local./ ?bidi" (for whatever that means)
Driver Version is 18.4
Printer Software is HP LaserJet P2015 Series
The printer is listed as a printer on System Preferences/Print&Fax screen
If I connect the printer cable directly to the iMac, the printer works fine.
Any helpful directions would be greatly appreciated.

I came across an Apple article last modified 6/2/08 (Printer troubleshooting for AirPort Base Stations and Time Capsule). It suggested the old standby, i.e., disconnect the AirPort Extreme Base Station from its power source, turn off the printer, turn on the printer, and reconnect the AirPort to its power source. It worked. I guess disconnecting the AirPort cleared out the network host. Yea.

Laserwriter problem: the network host is busy ...

HI,
My Intel iMac is connected to a LaserWriter 16/600 PS. I have used this printer for many years. I have always worked even with my Intel iMac. This morning trying to use it as usual I got a print error message, telling me: "reversible problem: the network host «10.0.1.4» is busy (see below)":
I restarted my iMac and my printer in this order, and still got the same message. No changes has been made to my network. What could be the problem ?
Regards.
Robert Lespérance

Hi,
The «Host is down» message is back again ... For a reason I don't understand, I am unable to print to my LaserWriter 16/600 PS anymore.
I have been using this printer in the present environnement for 2 years without any problem. For a month or so, my iMac seems to loose contact with the printer. Playing around with the cables and restarting the computer as done until now, but I don't understand what really gets my back in communication with the printer.
This morning I have tried to be more cautious of my steps to see what can be the way back, but I was not able yet to reconnect to the printer.
I closed the printer, disconnected the cable to the router, restarted the computer and opened the printer ... Nothing did it.
Who or what is the intruder messing the communication ?

Re: Printer "saying network host is busy retrying HP 6500 E710n-z

I have just set up my new All-in0one printer HP 6500710n-z and each time i print WIRELESSLY it does not print rather I get an error message saying" NETWORK HOST IS BUSY, RETRYING......" I am lost and need to print urgently what to do?

What router? What operating system?
Download and run this utility: http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Nav?h_pagetype=s-926&h_lang=en&h_client=s-h-e17-1&h_keyword=dg-NDU&ju...
What does it say?
Say thanks by clicking "Kudos" "thumbs up" in the post that helped you.
I am employed by HP

Network host is busy

I have a brand new Photosmart D110. Wireless appeared to install correctly, printer is visible on network, driver installed from the factory disk. I am on a MacBook, OSX 10.5.8
I can see the printer through the HP and web utlity pages, see toner levels, etc. But I cannot print a page and cannot print a test page. I get the error Network host 'HP7433EE' is busy; will retry in xx seconds..
I have printed files from by using email to web feature but can't make it work wirelessly. What can I do?
This question was solved.
View Solution.

I just had this same problem. Actually I've had mine hooked up for a coupla' years and then it started not printing, and showing that message in the queue.
Here's how I fixed it:
-- I took the suggestion about going to Sys Prefs/Printer Prefs, right click on printer and select "reset printing system. This will wipe all your printers, which you then have to reinstall.
-- My printer is connected to my network wirelessly and has a static IP address. Under "Add a Printer" dialog, I select "IP" and under "protocol" I selected "HP Jetdirect socket." And then I made sure to select the specific HP driver for my model, instead of using generic driver.
Previously, when I had wiped my printers, I had selected "IPP" under "Protocol." I don't know what caused this to freak out all of a sudden, but this is what fixed it for me. Good luck!
juliana

Network Host is Busy over VPN

I have seen other 'Network Host is Busy' postings before but none seemed to relate to my network arrangement.
I have two Linksys routers. The first is a wired/wireless router that provides public wifi access to our office using the 192.168.1.xxx network. The second is a wired only network which connects to the first router and provides the 192.168.2.xxx network which does not offer DHCP and is not public.
I am using a brand new MacBook Pro (I am a very experienced Windows user, this is my first ever Mac and I feel very out of place) on the wifi.
Previously, with my windows laptop, I connected to the 192.168.2.xxx network wirelessly through a windows based machine running the Microsoft VPN service. Using this method, I was able to print to printers on the wired network, access servers there etc. Life was good.
I set up a VPN to that machine (which connects seemingly without problems) with my Mac and added the printer (a network printer) which seemed also to work fine.
But when I print, I get the 'network host 192.168.2.201 is busy try again...' error and it won't print. I've tried using the IPP and LDP methods of adding the printer to no avail. The VPN address is on the same subnet (192.168.2.231) and OSX correctly identifies what type of printer it is during the connect process, it just can't print to it.
Any suggestions? Detail would help because like I said I am not an IT newbie but I am a Mac newbie for sure. Thanks in advance.

The IPP and LPD protocols each require that you also provide the printer's queue name (a part of the address to route data to the printer - required by virtue of the fact that many printers can be handled by one print server - the fact that your print server is built-in on the printer doesn't change the protocol standard). If you can't find the printer's queue name in its docs, you can look at a Windows computer that's setup and working in Printer Properties > Ports >Configure Port to see the LPD queue name or the last "/part" in the URL of an IPP (http) setup.
HTH

"Network host is busy, will try in 15 seconds..."

A user that I support has a MacBook Pro 15" running 10.5.8. He is on a LAN in a small office that has two ethernet networked printers and he has been able to print to both of them since January. He recently was in another office in Colorado where he forgot and tried to print to one of the printers but of course it didn't work because it wasn't on that office' LAN.
Now back at his local office when he tries to print, the printer looks like it is online and ready (shown in the Print&Fax Preference page as being Idle, no jobs queued) but when he prints he gets the warning message "“Network host is busy, will try in 15 seconds...”. He is on the wired LAN, not wireless. Windows PCs in the same office can print to the printer without a problem.
I remote connected to his MBP and deleted the printer both manually and by resetting the printing system. I added the printer back as it is detected by Bonjour but still get the error. I deleted it again and tried adding by using its IP address and specifying the CUPS driver, leaving the queue name blank (this is btw a Brother 4070CDW laser). Still get the error.
The other printer I added back by using it's IP address and CUPS driver. That one (a Brother DCP8045D) now works for printing.
I used http://localhost:631 to access the CUPS Administration pages but didn't see anything that indicated what might be the problem.
I'm wondering if this is some left over cache problem from when he was traveling or a firewall issue?
Any help is welcome.

Hello Larry,
Generally the 'network busy' message generally indicates that the selected printer port is not available. As to why this would be happening when selecting the Bonjour advertised printer, I am not sure. But I would try pinging the printer to ensure you have a connection to the Brother. If that is okay then I would add the printer queue again, but this time selecting IP > HP Jetdirect-Socket (which is the same as Port 9100 printing which Windows will often default to and since they are printing it is worth setting the Mac the same way).
HTH
Pahu

Print Server - Network host is busy

I have set up SLS as a print server with an HP laserjet connected via usb.
If I add the printer to OSX10.6 clients I get an error whenever I try to print anything stating the "network host xx is busy will retry in 30 seconds"
I can print no problem from Windows clients - just not Macs
Any ideas most welcome - I have tried pretty much everything I can think of at this stage?

I had exactly the same issue with a Epson USB printer. I do not have a Windows machine, but all the Macs were showing "Network host is busy, will retry in..."
It is working now. I did the following:
Installed the printer as a USB printer on the OS X server
In Server Admin, at the server.local, I selected the services tab, and put a check mark against Firewall.
I then selected the Firewall service and under the service tab, I allowed traffic on IPP and LPR ports.
I then recreated my print queue using only IPP as protocol.
My client could connect to this printer as it was advertised as a Bonjour printer @ servername.
This works even though I have not turned on the firewall service (no green dot) but it seems toggling these ports choices in the Firewall service did something.
Good luck.

Wireless printing - network host is busy/unreachable?

Hi everyone,
We installed a wireless (Lexmark X9350) network printer on our Airport network (behind ADSL + router with DHCP functions enabled).
The printer software installation finished successfully but gave a warning that the printer had not been added to the printer list and could/should be added manually. After having done this, wireless printing to the X9350 doesn't seem to be working: error: Network host is busy, unreachable, .... The same occurs on 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.3.
However, wireless printing from 2 PCs (WindowsXP) on the same wireless network works ok. Printing test page with USB cable attached to the Mac seems to be working as well. Any tips how we can get this wireless printing working for the Macs?
Thanks,
Guy

I meant specifically, after clicking ADD and then clicking More Printers, is there a Lexmark proprietary protocol choice that you used - something like "Lexmark network inkjet?" That will be the only way to add the printer - not IP printing.

"Network host busy" error

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