Ink Level and Network Reporting using SNMP

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Ink Level and Network Reporting using SNMP

• Developed By Erick J. Hernandez and Raymond
  Gonzalez
• Advisor Dr. S. Masoud SadjadiSchool of
  Computing and Information SciencesFlorida
  International University
• ehern032_at_fiu.edu
• http//www.cs.fiu.edu/sadjadi/

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Agenda

• Problem and Motivation
• Solution
• Behind the Scene
• Customizing the Solution
• Disclaimer
• Progress Report

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Problem and Motivation

• Since new network printers were installed,
  productivity seems to be going down when ink
  levels reach a critical level, or are completely
  out. Staff members do not notify the IT
  Department to let them know ink levels falls
  below a certain threshold and more should be
  ordered for replacement and storage.

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Fig 1.1
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Solution

• Using Spiceworks, an IT automation program, the
  printers will be monitored for shortage of ink
  levels, when fusers need to be replaced, when
  paper levels fall below 10, and when no network
  connectivity can be reached. This will allow the
  IT Staff to act quickly and effectively to
  minimize downtime and keep all printers running
  at 100.

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Fig 2.1
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Behind the Scene

• What we will be doing is installing Spiceworks on
  a PC acting as the Spicworks server. We will then
  configure each network printer to communicate,
  using SNMP, with Spicworks, and configure local
  and out of network communication to let all of
  the IT staff know when ink, level, fuser levels
  get to a critical low, and needs replacement. The
  SNMP will be configured via its own IP address
  and port number that will also be configured in
  the firewall.

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Fig 3.1
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Customizing the Solution

•  As with the ever changing world of IT, each
  printer needs to be configured on its own, and
  without group policy, to ensure successful
  configuration using SNMP, and connection to the
  Spiceworks server. This is crucial since without
  the correct connection, the whole process becomes
  void, and will not help the IT Staff.

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Fig 4.1
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Disclaimer

• Not every network printer will give out 100
  accurate information, and the count is never an
  exact science. One must be informed at all times
  about his/her network, and should know how and
  when to change the cartridge. Speed is a crucial
  step in IT efficiency, and keeping on top of
  ink/fuser/paper levels is an easy step that will
  continue to keep the IT infrastructure of a
  business flowing and without delay.

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Progress Report

• Completed
• Successfully configured both network printers to
  report to Spiceworks
• To Doconfigure out of network reportingemail
  notifications to IT Staff and users