Bits and Dots

Video: Use SNMP to Query Select Device Settings

Brian R. Kneebone — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:59:00 GMT

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used in many network appliances like switches, routers, printers, IP console KVMs, etc. While most network administrators would be directed to use tools like HP Web Jetadmin to do the work for them, for various reasons some administrators may prefer to query devices directly. I put together this simple video to show how you can use a simple tool like Net-SNMP to walk the list of OIDs, hunt for a particular value to find its corresponding OID to use in specific SNMP get queries admins may choose to build into their own scripts, programs etc ...

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WJA: HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 has Launched, 10.1 updated as well

Brian R. Kneebone — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:25:00 GMT

HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 (10.2.58560) has launched. There are a lot of really great new features that have been added with a couple altered or removed all-together. Give yourself some time to absorb the new features and treat this like a major upgrade. While the release notes show the detailed "What's New" information, here are some of the highlights I'm mainly appreciative of ...

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Security: Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities on Select MS Platforms

Brian R. Kneebone — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:56:00 GMT

I was listening to one of my security podcasts while driving back in the car from a customer appointment and the podcaster mentioned a series of critical MS updates for most of its operating systems had been posted on the latest patch-Tuesday...

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WJA: New Training Videos Online for HP Web Jetadmin 10

Brian R. Kneebone — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:12:00 GMT

The HP Web Jetadmin team has put together an amazing series of training videos that are beyond fantastic. I'm really happy to recommend this to customers of all sizes and types who would like a quick crash course in familiarizing themselves with the software or even to use it as a refresher. Many customers use HP Web Jetadmin for some, but not all functionality. Perhaps these videos are useful even to seasoned veterens with WJA interested in using features they may not have even known were available. This may be especially true as security topics continue to interest customers wishing to proactively manage their printing and imaging assets.

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Colour: Devices Designed for Business Continue to Challenge Perceptions

Brian R. Kneebone — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Most enterprise customers I work with equate enterprise printing with laser printing. While Hewlett-Packard has a fantastic array of products in its LaserJet and Color LaseJet portfolio, for many needs ink-based solutions may be perceived as inappropriate. Many customers think of the low-cost devices as having higher operational costs, challenges with archivability including water fastness, and issues with tracking and monitoring over the network (especially for USB-connected devices) using tools like HP Web Jetadmin. Hewlett-Packard continues to challenge these perceptions with new advancements in it's HP OfficeJet Pro line-up refreshed in February......(read more)

Video Tutorial: Importing and Exporting Data with HP Web Jetadmin

Brian R. Kneebone — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:40:00 GMT

It's been well over a month since I've posted an update on this portal, so I figured it was time for another video tutorial. This question has come up a couple of times with my various customers around importing and exporing data. This is usually around using asset management fields like exporting a list of serial numbers to compare against an asset management system or even importing tags into HP Web Jetadmin to either help for device identification with helpdesk and/or incorporate into reports......(read more)

Solutions: HP Global Solutions Catalogues and HP LaserJet Fonts Portals Updated ...

Brian R. Kneebone — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:30:00 GMT

I work with large enterprise customers where they look to Hewlett-Packard to solve universal problems you may be interested in, including: reducing wasted prints, facilitating document capture, improving electronic and paper security, reducing costs of specialty printing, etc. Hewlett-Packard has made strong investments in the solutions space to help customers optimize their infrastructure, manage their environment and improve workflows. For some people, this may be as simple as doing more with the printers, MFPs, scanners, etc. they purchase from HP already. For others, they may look for solutions which alter business process to improve efficiencies. If you're thinking along these lines, I strongly you to take a look at the HP Global Solution Catalog and the HP LaserJet Fonts websites which have been recently updated showing more solution partners, better descriptions, more products, etc......(read more)

DDU: Use the HP Driver Deployment Utility to preconfigure drivers, create network print queues and preserve WHQL

Brian R. Kneebone — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

A short time ago, Hewlett-Packard had released a utility called the "HP Driver Deployment Utility" (DDU) to the web. Previously the DDU was circulated privately amongst HP's enterprise customers. DDU was designed to be as agnostic as possible with most commercial LaserJet, Color LaserJet and Edgeline drivers including the HP Universal Print Driver. Here are its major features......(read more)

Linux Update: HPLIP Updated to Version 3.9.2

Brian R. Kneebone — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:40:00 GMT

A new version (3.9.2) of the HPLIP software (Linux printer driver software) was released on Thursday, February 19th......(read more)

TIP: Determining the Manual Proxy for use within HP Web Jetadmin

Brian R. Kneebone — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:00:00 GMT

HP Web Jetadmin has the ability to reach out to the HP website for several different reasons including downloading the latest firmware updates, getting troubleshooting information for particular devices, etc. To do so, activate HTTP downloads under the "Tools" -> "Options" menu. If your organization uses a proxy server, HP Web Jetadmin is compatible with most, but not all. Also, it requires the entry of a manual proxy address (automatic proxies are not supported at this time). So what do you do if your organization has an automatic proxy server? Read the rest of this article to learn more ......(read more)

WJA: HP Web Jetadmin Updated to Version 10.1.56108 (Service Release 2.0)

Brian R. Kneebone — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:18:00 GMT

HP Web Jetadmin 10.1 has been updated to version 10.1.56108 (Service Release 2.0). Please review the "Release Notes" for the upgrade which detail the fixes made with this particular release above and beyond the previous versions. ...(read more)

Webcast: Imaging and Printing Security Best Practices

Brian R. Kneebone — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:45:00 GMT

Learn more about what you can do to proactively protect your organization's imaging and printing interersts at this HP webcast. Attendees registering from the US or Canada will be entered for a chance to win an HP OfficeJet J6480 AiO wireless printer......(read more)

SECURITY ALERT: Certain HP LaserJet Printers, HP Color LaserJet Printers, and HP Digital Senders, Remote Unauthorized Access to Files

Brent Follett — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:39:00 GMT

HP recently identified and fixed a significant security vulnerability that can allow unauthorized access to files from remote. This can apply to certain HP LaserJet, Color LaserJet, and Digital Senders. According to published documentation, the following...(read more)

MFP: Updated Versions of Firmware for Multifunction and Digital Sender Devices (2008 - 3)

Brian R. Kneebone — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:55:00 GMT

Some of you may have already jumped on the latest firmware from HP.com. Especially if you have subscribed to email alerts for the products in your inventory. But either way, here is the summary of the last major firmware release (3rd for 2008) which began rolling in December 2008. Product names are linked to jump you directly to the support site for downloads......(read more)

UPD: HP Universal Print Drivers Updated to Version 4.7

Brian R. Kneebone — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

In the category of "updates I would like to have posted earlier", I want to let everyone know that the HP Universal Print Drivers have been updated. Although if you are getting proactive alerts, you would have already known. This UPD update includes all versions (PCL5, PCL6 and PostScript) as well as all operating system bit depths (32-bit/x86 and 64-bit/x64)......(read more)