Local (USB) printer hurdle

jswinberlinMaven VIP

As we are looking to start a new MPS initiative this year. We are looking at FMAudit and also a supplier who works in conjunction to FMAudit for order fulfillment.

From what I'm hearing regardless of what the provider says local (usb) printers are still difficult to monitor even with the use of agent software . Does anyone have feedback on this? How are you handling it? Although I know it is frowned upon by most IT support staff and myself I'm thinking we may have to resort to putting small switches in at the device location. Take an environment where they have 8 - 10 local printers that they want on an MPS program but don't want to have to provide meters every month...how do you handle this?

2/3/154:41 PM

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Original Post

Paul GiorgiDocusultant P4P'er VIP

You are correct, local tracking is the single most difficult thing to manage, and in my opinion, it is about to get even more difficult. Take a look at this document from HP about their SNMP proxy agent, http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc...play?docId=c01840676

it outlines how they manage local devices. The Proxy app works with by taking HP only information and broadcasting that information over SNMP from the workstation the printer is connected to.

My real concern is from Page 21 and 22 of this document, Page 21 lists the compatible printers with the proxy agent however, Page 22 outlines HP's future Smart devices and how 95% of the local monitoring beacons will not work for these devices. Page 22 also raises another question about HP, why does it appear they are stepping away from SNMP and moving to web services?

jswinberlin, I know you are down a road with FM Audit but do me a favor, call me at the Print Audit office 1-877-412-8348 (ask for Paul G). I would be more than happy to show you how we handle local devices and how much more value we can provide an office equipment dealer beyond monitoring Printers and MFP's.

2/4/159:41 AM

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