Updated September 2026

When a Fiery server throws an error, your whole print queue stalls: proofs miss deadlines, customer jobs back up and someone ends up standing at the press refreshing Command WorkStation. The good news is that most Fiery errors fall into a few predictable groups, and many can be cleared in minutes once you know which group you’re looking at.

Some Fiery “errors” are really engine fault codes from the Canon, Xerox, Konica Minolta or other device the Fiery is attached to. Some are messages in Command WorkStation or Fiery XF. Others are PostScript errors caused by the file itself, not the hardware. This guide covers the Fiery error codes and messages that show up most often in Colorado print shops, marketing departments and in-plant print centers: what each one means, how to fix it and when to call for service.

Is your press down right now? Skip the troubleshooting. Request service online or call 303-778-0600.

First: where is the error showing up?

Where the message appears tells you more than the message itself. Start here:

Fiery error quick reference

1. Fiery LED codes: 00 vs. stuck on FF

Many Fiery controllers, both embedded and bustled (external), show a two-digit code on an LED display during startup. The codes flash through a diagnostic sequence, then settle on 00, which means the Fiery is idle and ready. If you see 00, the controller is fine and the problem is somewhere else.

If the display stays on FF, the Fiery didn’t finish booting. Try this first:

1. Power off the printer and the Fiery completely and wait 60 seconds.
2. Make sure every cable between the printer and the Fiery is fully seated, including power, network and interface cables.
3. Power the devices back on in the order your manufacturer recommends, and give the Fiery several minutes. The first boot after a system update can take longer than usual.

If it still hangs on FF, the most common cause is a failed hard drive or corrupted system software, and the fix is a drive replacement and system reload. That’s a technician job. (Fiery’s own service documentation tells technicians not to replace the hard drive and motherboard at the same time, so leave the diagnosis to them.)

Fiery stuck on FF? A failed drive won’t fix itself. Book a technician and tell us the model of your printer and Fiery so we arrive with the right parts.

2. Xerox fault code 127-210 or 127-211: DFE communication failure

On Xerox presses, 127-210 and 127-211 mean the printer’s network controller lost contact with its digital front end (DFE), which is your Fiery server. Xerox’s recommended steps:

1. Delete the active jobs in the print queue.
2. Power off both the printer and the Fiery, then power them back on. For a bustled Fiery, confirm the Fiery itself is actually powered on.
3. Make sure the date and time match on the printer and the Fiery server.
4. Power down again and check the data and scan cables between the two.
5. If it keeps happening, contact service. Xerox notes some presses need a software upgrade to resolve it.

3. Xerox fault code 027-315: Fiery server logic fail

Xerox documents 027-315 as a problem in the Fiery server or the Fiery server interface. The first step is simple: restart the Fiery server using the proper shutdown procedure, not by pulling power. If the code comes back after a clean restart, stop there and call service.

4. Printer errors reported in Command WorkStation

Command WorkStation relays printer conditions to your desktop, so an “error” in CWS is often a physical problem at the machine. Fiery lists the most critical error first. Clear them one at a time, top down:

• Check printer power and cable connections / Printer serial communications lost: the Fiery can’t reach the print engine. Confirm the printer is on and awake, reseat the cables, then restart both devices. If it recurs, treat it like the communication codes above.
• Printing suspended: someone paused printing at the printer or in CWS. Resume it.
• Front door open, paper jam, toner empty: fix the condition at the machine, then resume the job if it doesn’t restart on its own.
• Maintenance required: the printer is due for scheduled maintenance. Book it before it turns into downtime.

Statuses like Idle, Busy, Printing, Sleep, Low Power, Warming Up and Calibration are normal and don’t need action.

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5. “Cannot connect to Fiery server” in Command WorkStation

This is one of the most common Fiery issues. Work through these in order:

• Check the address. Make sure you’re connecting with the Fiery’s correct IP address or DNS name.
• Close other remote tools. Another computer running Fiery utilities or WebTools can interfere while it pulls status.
• Restart Command WorkStation, then the Fiery server.
• Check the configuration. In WebTools > Configure, confirm at least the Hold queue is published and the network settings are correct.
• Check the version. Make sure your Command WorkStation version supports your Fiery server and your computer’s operating system. Check this especially after an operating system upgrade on the workstation.

6. “Printer not found” / Fiery missing from the network

According to Fiery’s documentation, most “not found” failures come from a missing or conflicting server name or IP address. Try:

1. Ping the Fiery from the affected computer.
2. Check the server name under Configure > Fiery Server > Server Name.
3. Make sure the Fiery’s IP address or DNS name is in the Command WorkStation server list.
4. If DNS is unreliable, add the Fiery to the computer’s hosts file (and update it if the name ever changes).

If the Fiery recently got a new IP address, from a DHCP change, a new firewall or a network upgrade, that’s almost always the cause. Giving the Fiery a reserved or static IP address stops it from happening again. If your network is managed by an outside IT provider, loop them in so print devices are included in future network changes.

7. Fiery XF: “The server has been disconnected”

In Fiery XF (used on wide-format and proofing printers), this message usually appears when the Fiery XF server itself has stopped. Fiery Server Control will show it as stopped. Open Fiery Server Control, start the server again, and reconnect. If it keeps stopping on its own, check for pending Windows or Fiery XF updates and available disk space, and have your service provider review the logs.

8. PostScript error: VMerror

A VMerror means the RIP ran out of working memory while processing a file. The Fiery is usually fine; the problem is the job. Fixes, from quickest to most involved:

• Reboot the Fiery to clear memory, then resend the job.
• Print long or image-heavy documents in smaller page ranges.
• Export a fresh PDF with transparency flattened and images downsampled to the resolution you actually need.
• Reduce the number of fonts, and split very complex vector paths in the design application.
• If VMerrors are routine for your normal work, the controller may be undersized for your jobs. It’s worth reviewing memory or controller options.

9. PostScript error: limitcheck

A limitcheck error means the file exceeded a PostScript implementation limit, most often from very complex vector paths, deeply nested objects or damaged fonts. Try:

• Simplifying or ungrouping complex artwork in the source application.
• Replacing damaged fonts, or outlining type in the final file.
• Sending the job as a PDF instead of printing PostScript from the application.
• Turning off plug-ins or extensions that add extra PostScript data.

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10. Paper mismatch, media mismatch and held jobs

When a job asks for paper that doesn’t match what’s loaded, the Fiery responds based on how it’s configured:

• Suspend on Mismatch: the job pauses while a timer runs. Load the correct paper before it times out, or the job is canceled.
• Cancel on Mismatch: the job is canceled right away.

For JDF jobs whose media can’t be matched automatically, Command WorkStation shows an error on the job. Right-click the job, open the JDF settings, choose the option to fix the conflict, and map it to an existing Substrate Catalog entry (called Paper Catalog on older systems) or add a new one. In Fiery XF, “Media mismatch” means the media type on the printer differs from what’s set up in Fiery XF, so align the two.

The habit that prevents most held jobs: make sure the tray settings on the printer (size, weight, coated or uncoated) match the catalog entry every time paper is loaded.

11. Fiery Hot Folder errors

Hot Folders automate job submission, so when they fail, jobs quietly stop flowing. Common problems and fixes:

• Hot Folder can’t connect to the Fiery server: confirm the Fiery is on, the Hot Folder is activated and “Stop All Hot Folders” is off. Test the connection with Command WorkStation. On a Mac, try the Fiery’s IP address instead of its name.
• Fiery server doesn’t respond: check that the printer isn’t in power saver mode or suspended, and that the server name or IP hasn’t changed.
• Job failed: open the Hot Folder log for details, and make sure the folder’s properties support that file type.
• Hot Folder missing from the console: it was probably renamed on the desktop instead of inside the Hot Folders console.
• Original file “disappeared”: files dragged onto a Hot Folder on the same disk partition are moved, not copied. Check the supporting folders.

For best performance, run Hot Folders on a separate computer rather than on the Fiery server itself.

12. Fiery Driver Updater and driver errors

The Fiery Driver Updater installs with Fiery drivers (version 5.0 and later) and checks for driver updates when you log in. If an update fails or a new driver causes problems:

• Close all print dialogs and the Devices and Printers window before updating.
• Install with administrator rights.
• If a new driver misbehaves, use the updater’s rollback option to go back to the previous version.
• If your IT team manages updates centrally, notifications can be turned off from the driver’s About tab.

13. Jobs stuck in “processing” or printing slowly

If one job crawls, the file is usually the cause: very large images, live transparency or hundreds of pages of variable data. If every job is slow:

• Delete old jobs from the Held and Printed queues to free disk space.
• Cancel the stuck job and reboot the Fiery.
• Check that the Fiery and Command WorkStation are on current system updates.
• Make sure the network link between workstations and the Fiery isn’t the bottleneck, especially for large files.
• For recurring variable-data or high-volume work, ask about Fiery options that speed up processing. The right configuration makes a big difference.

14. Color doesn’t match, even without an error

Color drifting from your proofs or brand standards is a Fiery issue even when no code appears. To bring it back in line:

1. Run calibration from Command WorkStation on the paper you print most.
2. Recalibrate after service visits, big temperature or humidity changes, or a paper stock change.
3. Make sure jobs use the right output profile for the stock. The wrong Substrate Catalog entry is a common cause of “bad color.”
4. If calibration doesn’t fix it, a new custom profile for that stock is the next step.

How to prevent most Fiery errors

Most of the problems above are preventable. A simple routine keeps Fiery servers stable:

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When to stop troubleshooting and call for service

Call a technician if: The Fiery stays on FF after a full power cycle. Communication codes like 127-210, 127-211 or 027-315 come back after you’ve cleared them. Every job fails, not just one file. You see physical warning signs such as clicking drives, burning smells or fans that won’t spin. You’ve restarted twice and the same error returns within a day.

Who to call: the Fiery or the printer? Fiery servers are made by Fiery, LLC (formerly part of EFI and now owned by Epson), but on most office and production systems the Fiery is sold and supported alongside the printer as one system. Start with your printer’s service provider. They can tell whether the fault is in the engine, the Fiery or the connection between them, and they have to be involved either way.

When you call, have ready: the exact error code or message, what’s on the Fiery LED (if it has one), the printer and Fiery model, and what you’ve already tried. That shortens the call and the visit.

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Fiery error FAQs

What does 00 mean on a Fiery?

00 means the Fiery has finished its startup diagnostics and is idle and ready to receive jobs. It is not an error.

Why is my Fiery stuck on FF?

FF means the Fiery didn’t finish booting. A full power cycle sometimes clears it, but a Fiery that stays on FF usually needs a technician to replace the hard drive or reload the system software.

What is Xerox error 127-210?

127-210 (and 127-211) means the Xerox printer lost communication with its digital front end, such as a Fiery server. Clear the queue, power cycle both devices, sync the date and time, and check the cables. Call service if it returns.

What is Xerox fault code 027-315?

027-315 indicates a problem in the Fiery server or its interface. Restart the Fiery server properly. If the code returns, contact service.

Why can’t Command WorkStation find my Fiery?

Usually because the Fiery’s IP address or server name changed or conflicts with another device. Ping the server, confirm the name and IP in Configure, and give the Fiery a static or reserved IP so it doesn’t move again.

Is a PostScript error a Fiery hardware problem?

Almost never. VMerror and limitcheck errors come from the file being too large or complex for the RIP. Simplifying the file, flattening transparency or printing smaller page ranges usually fixes it.

Why does my Fiery keep holding jobs for paper?

The job’s paper settings don’t match the tray or the Substrate Catalog. Match the tray settings when you load paper, or map the job to the correct catalog entry. You can also choose whether the Fiery suspends or cancels jobs on a mismatch.

How often should I calibrate my Fiery?

Calibrate regularly on the stocks you use most, and always after service visits, big temperature or humidity changes, or a new paper stock. For color-critical work, many shops start with weekly calibration and adjust from there.

Fiery still not cooperating? ABT’s service team supports Fiery-driven production and office print equipment across Denver, Colorado Springs and the Front Range. Tell us what’s on the screen and we’ll get your queue moving again. Request ServiceContact ABTor call 303-778-0600

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