"Authentication Error. Contact System Administrator” error on printers using CAC card readers

Issue description

Users authenticating using CAC/PIV cards get an intermittent “Authentication Error. Contact System Administrator” message.

This issue impacts any printer that is configured with CAC/PIV using any of the following newly released licenses:

• Smartcard NIPRNet for all the NIPR-related bundles
• Smartcard SIPRNet for all the SIPR-related bundles

Authentication stops working until the printer is restarted. The frequency of failure is intermittent.

Determining whether the printer has a NIPRNet or SIPRNet license

1. Open a web browser, and then type the printer IP address in the address field.

   Notes:

   • If necessary, log in as an administrator.
   • View the printer IP address on the home screen. The IP address appears as four sets of numbers separated by periods, such as 123.123.123.123.
   • If you are using a proxy server, then temporarily disable it to load the web page correctly.


2. Click Settings > Configuration History.



3. Look for the NIPRNet or SIPRNET License.

   

Solution

• Contact Lexmark Technical Support to get the firmware release 230.220 or later.