How to Setup Static IP on HP Smart Tank 9020 | PcMacgicians London
Assigning a static IP address to your HP Smart Tank 9020 ensures consistent network communication, preventing issues like the printer going offline or IP conflicts. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step. At PC Macgicians, we are well-acquainted with unusual technical issues that tend to arise at the most inconvenient times—such as during the crucial rent collection period at a bustling property management office.
Recently, we received a call to assist a local property management firm in Denmark Hill, SE5, whose HP Smart Tank 9020 had unexpectedly ceased to function properly with their PMX property management software. There were no paper jams or ink issues—simply a failure to print pages when commands were issued from their vital software. It may seem straightforward, but the resolution required advanced networking expertise, collaboration with software developers, and some intricate IP management.
Here is a detailed account of the situation.
The Problem: PMX Software Couldn’t Find the Printer
The company used PMX, a property management software platform that handles everything from contracts to maintenance logs.
Their HP Smart Tank 9020 was working fine for general tasks—emails, Word docs, web pages—but any time they tried printing directly from PMX, the job just… vanished.
No error messages. No printer beeps. No output.
Our technician stepped in and started troubleshooting.
Digging Deeper: It’s a Network Thing
After eliminating obvious culprits (like paper issues, printer drivers, and firewall interference), we discovered something important:
PMX only communicates with printers that have a static IP address.
Most printers on home or business networks operate using dynamic IPs—these change occasionally depending on how your router assigns devices.
PMX, however, is finicky and needs a fixed (static) IP to know exactly where to send print jobs.
Consulting the Software Developers
We contacted Axia, the developers of PMX, for official guidance. Their recommendation?
“Set the HP Smart Tank 9020 to a static IP address: 192.168.1.108.”
Our technician followed this precisely.
The Fix: Setting a Static IP on HP Smart Tank 9020
If you’re having similar issues, here’s the same step-by-step fix we used.
This works not just for PMX but also for any application that needs a stable connection to a printer.
Step-by-Step: Assigning a Static IP to an HP Smart Tank 9020
Access the Printer’s Control Panel
On the printer’s touch display, go to Wireless Settings > Network Settings.
View Current IP Address
Note down the current IP (e.g.,
192.168.1.120). You’ll need this to log into the printer’s web interface.
Login to the Embedded Web Server (EWS)
On a computer connected to the same network, open a browser and enter the printer’s IP address (e.g.,
http://192.168.1.120).The HP Embedded Web Server will open.
Go to Network Settings > IPv4 Configuration
Choose Manual IP or Static IP.
Set the IP to
192.168.1.108(or whatever IP was advised by the software vendor).Set the Subnet Mask (usually
255.255.255.0) and Gateway (your router’s IP, often192.168.1.1).
Apply Changes and Reboot
Save the settings.
Reboot the printer to ensure the static IP is applied correctly.
Update PMX Settings
Open PMX and update the printer path or configuration to use the new static IP.
Print a test job to confirm everything is working smoothly.
The Result: Seamless Printing Restored
With the new static IP in place, PMX instantly recognized the HP Smart Tank 9020, and print jobs started flowing without a hitch.
No delays, no confusion, just smooth printing—exactly what this property management team needed to keep business running without interruptions.
Why Static IPs Matter in Business Environments
Dynamic IPs are great for flexibility, but they’re not always reliable when devices need to be consistently accessible—like printers, NAS devices, or VoIP phones.
Static IPs eliminate that unpredictability by locking a device to one permanent address. That’s critical when:
Software like PMX expects consistent printer addresses
Networked devices (e.g., security systems, file servers) need to stay reachable
Shared printing environments rely on multiple users sending jobs to the same device
Need Help with Printing or Software Compatibility?
We provide onsite and remote business IT support across London, including Denmark Hill, SE5.
Whether you’re dealing with printers, outdated software, or networking nightmares—we’ve got your back!