One thing I learned when I started this job is just how cool manageable printers could be. Here at HHS we try to buy only network manageable printers. The majority of the printers here at HP LaserJet printers. If you haven’t looked at HP printers with JetDirect network cards in them, take a look. They are awesome!!

Here are some of the things I like about them:

*They have a built in web server so they can be managed via a web interface. Just type the IP address of the printer into your web browser and start managing!
*They have a built in Telnet interface, so they can be managed via a command line.
*They can integrate into HP’s free Web JetAdmin management application. Web JetAdmin is for managing large numbers of printers all through your web browser.
*They can “speak” in just about any protocol and language you can think of including PCL, PostScript, AppleTalk, IPX/SPX, mDNS, SMB, TCP/IP, LPR, RAW, etc. Amazing!

Because these printers have all this great stuff built into them, I can set them up to do things like:

*Email me (or others) when they are low on toner, have a paper jam, etc.
*Upgrade the firmware of sixty printers from my desk
*Remotely run the control panel on the printer to clear errors

Having printers this manageable makes my job a lot easier, especially when you consider that there are 67 printers in this building!

Pete