Can't Connect Anet-A8 printer to OctoPi

Get Help
1

What is the problem?

My Anet-A8 printer is not connecting to my Raspberry Pi 3 via OctoPi

What did you already try to solve it?

I Tried different USB ports on the Pi
I Made sure there was no dust blocking the pi's ports
I Restarted Both OctoPi and The Pi itself
I Re-flashed the Operating System
I Rebooted OctoPi into safe mode
I confirmed the main board was still responsive by ensuring that My Mac could detect it (It was responsive)
I used lsusb to see if the Raspberry pi 3 detetcted the board whatsoever (It did not)

Have you tried running in safe mode?

Yes

Did running in safe mode solve the problem?

No, The situation remained the exact same

Systeminfo Bundle

OctoPrint System Info Feb 17 2025.zip (1.4 MB)

Device Details
OctoPrint: Latest. I think (1.10.0), OctoPi: Also Latest, Printer: Anet-A8 (Heated Bed), Firmware: I'm not sure the deafult one I guess, Browser: I tried Safari, Arc (Chromium), Firefox, Safari (On Phone), Operating System: I tried MacOS (Sequoia), IOS, 18.0.3, and SteamOS (Arch)

3

Okay sry, but literally I can't put any of the logs in here like they literally just get rejected for being too large

4

I never tried the stock firmware of Anet printers but flashed them to Marlin 2
This way, I am running an A8 and an A8-Plus without any issues.

5

Did you also try different USB cables?

  • Do you try to upload the systeminfo bundle as it is (a zip-file)?

or

  • Do you want to upload single files?
6

I agree with you in that yes I probably should try a different cable but I was hoping to know other things to try if that didn't work.

7

How do you flash firmware?

8

New update! So I tried plugging the cable into my Macbook Pro M4 and Arduino Recognized the device as Unknown. Is it possible that OctoPi just doesn't know what to do with it?

And if so what logs should I post to make debugging easier?

9

Create a systeminfo bundle (blue text is a link), download that file to your desktop and upload it here using the Upload icon. It is a .zip file that (usually) contains everything we need to start helping you.

The firmware can be updated in multiple ways. Most slicers that have built in support for the Anet-A8 will have the ability to update the firmware. OctoPrint has a plugin that will do it as well so you don't have to detach the printer from the RPi and connect it to the host running the slicer.

10

Did you get the printer new or used?

11
12

It was a hand me down. Also let me grab the system bundle.
I have determined that there is no bootloader installed. But the pins to install one are not present on the
OctoPrint System Info Feb 18 2025.zip (1.3 MB)

I did have to compress the file a little bit to make it fit so I apologize for any issues of opening it.

13

I tried following the tutorial already, but Arduino couldn't upload it making me think that there is no boot loader installed, but also another issue I found is that my Anet's main board does not have that 6 pin port neccesary for installing one.

14

If you ssh into the pi while the printer is on and plugged into the pi, do an "lsusb" and see what that returns. That will show if the pi is recognizing the main board and what port it is on

15

I can't SSH into the pi because of the following. But before you ask about it no there is no man in the middle attack

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@ WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED! @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING NASTY!
Someone could be eavesdropping on you right now (man-in-the-middle attack)!
It is also possible that a host key has just been changed.
The fingerprint for the ED25519 key sent by the remote host is
SHA256:+6GGw9iUyyFcecfoIF4rx0MNVefOjEu5QsQgGW+F+0s.
Please contact your system administrator.
Add correct host key in /Users/rickkkkk/.ssh/known_hosts to get rid of this message.
Offending ECDSA key in /Users/rickkkkk/.ssh/known_hosts:2
Host key for octopi.local has changed and you have requested strict checking.
Host key verification failed.
rickkkkk@RickBook-Pro-M4 ~ % ssh -h
ssh: illegal option -- h
usage: ssh [-46AaCfGgKkMNnqsTtVvXxYy] [-B bind_interface] [-b bind_address]
[-c cipher_spec] [-D [bind_address:]port] [-E log_file]
[-e escape_char] [-F configfile] [-I pkcs11] [-i identity_file]
[-J destination] [-L address] [-l login_name] [-m mac_spec]
[-O ctl_cmd] [-o option] [-P tag] [-p port] [-R address]
[-S ctl_path] [-W host:port] [-w local_tun[:remote_tun]]
destination [command [argument ...]]
ssh [-Q query_option]

I will fix the keys now. And tell you what I see with the command

16

This is what comes out with and without the printer being connected:

Before:
Bus 001 Device 019: ID 0424:ec00 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMC9514 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

After:
Bus 001 Device 027: ID 0424:ec00 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMC9514 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

17

OctoPi doesn't see the printer so OctoPrint won't see it either.

SSH into OctoPi, type sudo dmesg --clear, unplug the printer, plug in the printer, type dmesg and show us the output (use the </> icon above around the text).

The number one cause of printers not being seen by the OS is a "power only" USB cable. Most of these cables are USB-A at one end and microUSB (or USB-C) at the other. Try other cables or go to Amazon and pick one. If you have to purchase a cable, make sure it is a shielded cable with ferrite cores as these will minimize other potential communication problems (like EMI).

Note: If the required cable is USB-A to USB-B, then they are almost all data cables.
Use USB shielded data cable ferrite as your Amazon search.

18

@b-morgan Alright. Also the cable is Data compatible because while I was trying to install firmware Arduino IDE was able to restart the printer it just wasn't able to write to it

And here is the logs

[   67.905565] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 9
[   67.905970] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[   68.119925] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[   68.120043] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[   68.709954] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 10 using dwc_otg
[   68.850164] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[   68.850189] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[   68.851295] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[   79.371590] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 10
[   79.372071] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[   79.589519] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[   79.589648] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[   80.169463] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 11 using dwc_otg
[   80.299599] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[   80.299623] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[   80.300552] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[   93.903098] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 11
[   93.903591] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[   94.108822] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[   94.108936] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[   94.688833] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 12 using dwc_otg
[   94.818997] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[   94.819022] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[   94.820577] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  102.278469] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 12
[  102.279170] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  102.498643] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[  102.498757] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  103.098649] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 13 using dwc_otg
[  103.228836] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[  103.228861] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  103.229767] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  110.688294] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 13
[  110.688845] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  110.918576] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[  110.918686] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  111.538546] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 14 using dwc_otg
[  111.668754] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[  111.668782] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  111.669770] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  111.670039] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  111.670147] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  119.118218] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 14
[  119.118718] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  119.328456] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[  119.328558] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  119.928470] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 15 using dwc_otg
[  120.058715] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[  120.058742] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  120.059563] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  120.059812] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  120.059910] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  127.507982] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 15
[  127.508462] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  127.718461] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[  127.718592] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  128.318465] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 16 using dwc_otg
[  128.448641] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[  128.448666] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  128.449521] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  128.449819] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  128.449907] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  135.898157] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 16
[  135.898825] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  136.108426] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[  136.108536] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  136.698396] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 17 using dwc_otg
[  136.838696] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[  136.838730] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  136.839832] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  136.840282] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  136.840477] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  144.288000] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 17
[  144.288574] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  144.508141] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 2 using dwc_otg
[  144.508307] Indeed it is in host mode hprt0 = 00001101
[  145.088111] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 18 using dwc_otg
[  145.218294] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0424, idProduct=ec00, bcdDevice= 2.00
[  145.218318] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[  145.219169] usb 1-1.1: can't set config #1, error -71
[  145.219475] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
[  145.219580] hub 1-1:1.0: hub_ext_port_status failed (err = -71)
pi@octopi:~ $
19

OctoPrint needs a USB serial connection and for some reason, your printer isn't presenting itself as a USB serial device.

Here's the output from the experiment using my LulzBot TAZ 6. Note the last line ttyACM0

pi@octopi:~ $ sudo dmesg --clear
[sudo] password for pi:
pi@octopi:~ $ dmesg
[24761.860933] usb 1-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 6
[24762.161439] usb 1-1.3: new full-speed USB device number 7 using dwc_otg
[24767.281456] usb 1-1.3: new full-speed USB device number 8 using dwc_otg
[24767.425862] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=27b1, idProduct=0001, bcdDevice= 0.01
[24767.425886] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=220
[24767.425902] usb 1-1.3: Product: RAMBo
[24767.425917] usb 1-1.3: Manufacturer: UltiMachine (ultimachine.com)
[24767.425932] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 75530313231351F06051
[24767.427480] cdc_acm 1-1.3:1.0: ttyACM0: USB ACM device
pi@octopi:~ $

See this topic for some additional information and some screenshots showing a USB device being created.

While we are narrowing in on the problem, I'm afraid I have no clue for a solution.

20

Alright thanks. Also I don't know if this is useful for narrowing things down but I did also try to plug in a physical webcam it was logitech I don't remember which one and that also had issues showing anything. But I can confirm that the system at least found it as an unknown USB device

21

Also. Seeing as the Anet A8 atleast the one I have is very old I would also take "Sorry your printer is simply not compatible " as an answer