Question: Why are HP Web Jetadmin device lists important?

Answer: One could say that the power of HP Web Jetadmin is found in device lists. Lists give the user the ability to get information about many devices at once. Lists have other important features like Search Text , Layouts , Filters and Export that allow the user to quickly discern complex print-environment details. One idea to keep in mind when working with HP Web Jetadmin device lists -- information conveyed through the All Devices list is representative of data stored in HP Web Jetadmin device tables. These tables are kept up to date by polling (described later) but the All Devices list is really a reflection of data stored within the application itself.

Question: Are the columns that appear in the HP Web Jetadmin device list configurable?

Answer: Yes, the Layouts feature allows you to enable or disable around 300 different device data columns. These data columns represent device information ranging from simple page and media counters to complex multi-function settings such is Kerberos Authentication. To quickly enable or disable device list columns just right-click any column header to view a quick list of pre-selected columns. Or, choose the Layouts menu from HP Web Jetadmin’s toolbar. This feature allows you to build and store pre-set custom layouts. You can also share layouts or keep them private.

Question: How often is column data updated?

Answer: HP Web Jetadmin has a series of polling mechanisms that keep different features, including device lists, supplied with information directly obtained from devices. To view the poll settings for device lists navigate through the HP Web Jetadmin menu Tools, Options, Device Management, Device Polling . Background settings are used to adjust polling for any device list displayed as well as polling for things like Automatic Groups or Filters . Background polling is always enabled and is always running even when users are not logged on. Background polling gathers data represented by columns for any list being viewed by a user. If three users are logged in, looking at All Devices lists and perhaps a Groups listing too, the devices and the columns enabled in those lists will be registered into the Background poll mechanism.

Another poll mechanism exists that allows more proactive list updates for devices that users are viewing in live client sessions. Device List poll settings determine the frequency at which device data is obtained that is actually in view. When a user is looking at an HP Web Jetadmin device list, many times, they are only looking at a portion of the list. There may be thousands of devices in that list but there are only several dozen devices actually under display. There may also be only a set of the total columns enabled under view while other columns are not in view. Devices and device column data elements under view by one or more users are registered into the Device List poll mechanism. In this way, items under view are actually updated more frequently and by a separate mechanism than those items not under view.

Question: How do poll settings really impact the way device data is being queried by HP Web Jetadmin?

Answer: Polling interval is the amount of time HP Web Jetadmin is actively sending queries to devices. If the polling interval is set to 5 seconds, Web Jetadmin will send queries to devices during that 5 second interval until the interval is expired. Time between polling interval is the duration of rest where HP Web Jetadmin is not actively sending queries to devices. During this time, the application waits for any remaining responses and also processes other active tasks. Number of devices per poll is the number of devices receiving queries at any given time. If the value is set to 2, HP Web Jetadmin will send queries for the registered device data to 2 of the devices registered to the poll mechanism and then it will wait for responses. If the responses arrive before the Polling interval has expired, HP Web Jetadmin will send 2 more queries to 2 new devices and then continue along this path until the interval is expired.

Question: Is the device list value reflected by the IP Hostname column actually coming from the device?

Answer: No. The IP Hostname column explicitly uses name resolution from the Windows operating system hosting HP Web Jetadmin. The value displayed by this column is usually but not always registered in a domain name service on the Windows Active Directory. There are many forms of name service and the Windows system can resolve IP addresses into names (called getNamebyAddr) through a variety of methods.

The HP Web Jetadmin System Name column reflects the value that is actually stored on the device. The sysName object on the Jetdirect interface is stored on the device but under some circumstances can also be registered with a name service such as DNS. See HP Jetdirect documentation on device IP Hostname registration for more details.

Question: Now that we know that HP Web Jetadmin device list columns are not always reflective of device based information, can you tell me about other, similar columns?

Answer: Yes. There are several columns that convey information that is not present on the device. While the vast majority of HP Web Jetadmin columns convey information that is indeed on the device, this short list shows columns that convey non-device based information:

• Credentials Required
• Device Groups
• Device Icon
• Last Communication
• Severity
• Status
• Acknowledged
• Active Directory Description
• Active Directory Location
• Active Directory Name
• Active Directory Path
• IP Hostname
• Last Discovered
• MultiHomed
• PC Connected
• Port (any)
• Printer Firmware Available
• Printer Firmware Severity
• Printer Firmware Update
• Jetdirect Firmware Available
• Jetdirect Firmware Severity
• Unique
• Data Collection Enabled (Accessory Inventory)
• Data Collection Enabled (Device Inventory)
• Data Collection Enabled (Device Utilization by User)
• Data Collection Enabled (Device Utilization)
• Data Collection Enabled (Event Log History)
• Data Collection Enabled (Hourly Peak Usage)
• First Collected (Supply Utilization)
• First Collected (Accessory Inventory)
• First Collected (Device Inventory)
• First Collected (Device Utilization by User)
• First Collected (Device Utilization)
• First Collected (Event Log History)
• First Collected (Hourly Peak Usage)
• First Collected (Supply Utilization)
• Last Collected (Supply Utilization)
• Last Collected (Accessory Inventory)
• Last Collected (Device Inventory)
• Last Collected (Device Utilization by User)
• Last Collected (Device Utilization)
• Last Collected (Event Log History)
• Last Collected (Hourly Peak Usage)
• Last Collected (Supply Utilization)
• Discovery Date/Time
• …more…

Question: What is meant by complex device list data column?

Answer: Some information is not easily conveyed in one cell within a device list column. Device Groups is a good example of this. The Device Groups column, when enabled, displays to show that a device is not a member of any group, displays when the device belongs to more than one group and, displays the actual group name when the device belongs to just one device group. In the case where the column cell is displaying , pass the mouse cursor over the cell and a tool-tip will appear containing the entire list of device groups where this device has membership. The complex column can be used in filters and all data about all group member ship tied to a specific device will be processed in filtering (more on this in FAQ regarding Filters).

Question: How can I change the order of device list columns?

Answer: Click on the header of any column and drag it into the desired position. Ordering can also be specified when building using the Layouts tool.

Question: How many columns can one enable on a device list?

Answer: There is no known limit. There is a performance implication when enabling lots and lots of columns though. The user should only enable as many columns as needed to perform tasks. Also, Layouts can be stored and changed quickly to facilitate getting different kinds of information in column sets.

Question: When I want to search a device list for a specific string of textual information, should I use Quick Device Discovery?

Answer: Not necessarily. In fact, the Search Text tool on the HP Web Jetadmin device list toolbar is probably a better option. Quick Device Discovery searches both the IP Address and IP Hostname columns within the All Devices list. If the address information entered by the user is not found in the device list, Quick Device Discovery will then send a network query using that information. If the device is found, it is then populated into the All Devices list as a newly discovered device.

Question: Does the Search Text tool search all activated columns for all devices in the list?

Answer: Yes. Search Text tool can be used to search All Devices or any device Group . It detects the first string match based on information entered by the user referenced from the current device list selection.

Question: Are there advanced search features?

Answer: Yes. The icon right next to the Search Text field, when selected, activates an Advanced Search . By using the Advanced Search tool the user can narrow down the columns to be searched to just one. This is helpful when trying to quickly locate a specific device model or some other information specific to one column. The feature also includes Find All, Match case, Add to selection, Use regular expression and Wrap at end of list functions.

Question: How can I use regular expression within Advanced Search?

Answer: When the Use regular expression checkbox is activated, Advanced Search treats the string as regular expression. Regular expression is a way of identifying text string characteristics such as text patterns or differences and similarities. An example would be looking for any string that contains the isolated word ‘grey’ or ‘gray’. A regular expression can be formulated (grey|gray) to keep from having to perform two string searches. Regular expressions can become very complex, a reference or manual should be used to develop deeper understanding of complex regular expression combinations.

Question: How can the Filters feature be used?

Answer: The Filters feature is also located on the toolbar of any HP Web Jetadmin list. This feature allows the user to specify filter-criteria detail that then limits or filters the list to display only those devices matching the criteria. Device list column data is used as the basis for filter criteria. Layers of filter criteria can be built up separated by AND/OR operators. More complex filter criteria can be assembled in the Advanced Edit mode within the Filter Editor. Filters can be saved and shared with other users.

Question: How can I tell if a device list is being filtered?

Answer: As of HP Web Jetadmin 10.2, a filter indicator is present in all device lists in the lower left portion of the UI. Before the release of HP Web Jetadmin 10.2, the filter icon is dull grey when no filter is applied and is brighter colored blue/green when a filter is applied.

Question: Is filtering used in any other features within HP Web Jetadmin?

Answer: Yes, two other features have filters incorporated.

Automatic Groups always have associated filter criteria. When you build an Automatic Group or change a Manual Group into an Automatic Group you must specify filter criteria just as you would when you are filtering a device list. Background polling always runs to ensure that device data is up to date and Automatic Group filtering is constantly evaluated in order to ensure that groups are as up to date as possible.

Built-in filtered device lists can be found in the navigation tree just below the All Devices group icon. A preferences dialoged can be activated via right-click of the All Devices group icon; just choose Customized filters from the right-click menu. Within the dialogue, any available filter can be activated including an custom filter that a user has created selected as Shared and activated as Available Under All Devices . Again, this is done from the Filters tool on any device list. Once these filtered lists are activated, HP Web Jetadmin uses Background polling to keep them current.

Question: How does HP Web Jetadmin determine device Status and Severity?

Answer: Status is formulated by object queries to the printer management structure using the SNMP protocol. These objects allow HP Web Jetadmin to determine device status such as Ready, Power Save On, Toner Low, etc. The HP Web Jetadmin Status column only shows the most severe and current status gathered from the device. The troubleshoot tab can be used to find all status messages for a single device selection. For instance, a device can be both Ready and Power Save On all at one time. Both of these status messages can be seen under the Troubleshoot tab.

Severity is indicated by an icon. The green icon with a white checkmark means “ready �?; the red icon with the white X means “error �? and these devices are usually not capable of producing print; The yellow icon with the black ! indicates “warning �? and usually means the device should have some kind of maintenance but is capable of printing. Severity and status are both formulated by HP Web Jetadmin by gathering device details.

Question: What is indicated by the Unique device column?

Answer: HP Web Jetadmin always attempts to formulate a unique identifier for each device it discovers. In this way the device is fully distinguishable from other devices and certain stored data is protected. If a device does not support the serial number object, HP Web Jetadmin will present a “no�? message in the Unique device column. The only way a device can be considered unique is if it supports a serial number object allowing HP Web Jetamdin to learn and formulate its identity. Non-unique devices are not allowed into HP Web Jetadmin Data collection.

Question: How do I enable or disable the HP Web Jetadmin device list tabbed area?

Answer: On the device list toolbar, use the icon that has an up/down pointed arrow. The tab area can be disabled to make more device list space and to keep HP Web Jetadmin from generating unnecessary network traffic when device selections are being made.

Question: Is there a way to remove devices from HP Web Jetadmin 10 that is the same as clearing cache in earlier releases of HP Web Jetadmin?

Answer: Yes and no.

HP Web Jetadmin 10 device data is all captured into a set of database tables. Historic information, device histories and all of the different pieces of device information gathered through polling are in relational database tables. Removing a device from the HP Web Jetadmin All Devices list should be carefully considered. This is why three different forms of removal are provided. Choose any single device or multiple device selection from the All Devices list and then right-click the selection. From the right-click menu, chose Delete . A dialogue will appear with three different delete options. Hide preserves all device data including historic Reports data and device histories by putting the device into a hidden devices list. If a discovery occurs that happens to resolve the device or devices, they will be added back into the All Devices list. Delete will remove the device and all associated device data. This device data includes all historic Reports data as well as any device history detail. Delete and block is the same as the middle Delete option but it adds the device to a blocked device list. Of course, all devices within the All Devices listing can be selected and the Delete options can be activated for this selection.

Question: How can I send the device list to a file for processing in other applications?

Answer: Export . The Export feature can be used to convey any device list data to either XML or CSV formatted files. The feature can be used to convey the list to these formats on the local client file system or to email or to the server file system. The Export feature can be scheduled in a variety of ways so that raw list data can be conveyed into other processes to accommodate several business scenarios. See the Reports and Device List Exporting White Paper for more details regarding the Export feature.

Question: What kinds of histories are available that let me know what actions HP Web Jetadmin has performed on devices?

Answer: The Configuration History shows configuration sessions, who performed them and which device settings changed. Configuration errors such as also indicate when a particular setting was not established on the device. The Configuration History can be found under the Configure tab as well as in the navigation tree. Other logged items can be found in the Application log which is accessible through the Tools, Options menu.