How to get a host name?

Where do printer host names come that usually get entered into port name or ip address in devices and printers?

• Usually when I install a network printer I set it up static (outside the dhcp range of my router.) then I go into device and printers (windows 7) I add a port of the ip address I assigned the printer and it works. The other day I was setting up my mothers printer on a windows 7 machine. Since that printer was older it did not have the network drivers for that printer. I usally install it by using a usb cable and then adding a standard tcp /ip port. Usually I copy the settings from the other computers which had a printer host name (I assume) put in by the software. It was late and I used a TCP/IP Address. This router I don't think has address reservation so I am preparied to go back if the printer router switches the ip address on the printer. (I beleive it was setup in dhcp scheme) I can handle the situcation no problem even if I have to put everything on static but my question is such where does the software get the printer host name from. It uses that instead of an IP address. I went into the printer web gui and it's name was different then what was on the standard port monitor in devices and printers( thats where you can configure or setup a new port) It looked like it used a Mac address but with HP in front of it. So I am baffled. Sure I can continue to use static Ip's but I'd am very curious to find out where from or what the software uses as a port name to the port monitor in windows where it asks you for the Printer Name or IP address. Even though I don't think it's importnat the model is hp deskjet 6840

• Answer:

  Host names are a static setting within the printer itself, software does not by itself configure a Host name. Printers that are network capable will have a default Host name already setup and configured from the factory, and will usually be unique to that printer. You can use the Host name already in the printer or change it to a name you'd like it to be by going into the printer's network settings either through the printer's control panel (if so equipped) or through the web browser of a computer connected to the network by using the current Host name or IP address of the printer in the web browser address bar. If you set the printer's IP address setup for DHCP, then anytime the printer, switch or router is turned off then back on, the IP address has a good chance of changing, thereby making the printer unavailable to everyone else who has the IP address listed in their printer setup on their computer, but if you use the Host name for the printer address in each computer, the IP address can change all it wants and they will always have access to the printer. Otherwise you can setup a static IP address in the printer that will never change, but under certain circumstances, if other devices use DHCP, there can be a conflict of IP addresses in the router/switch.