HP Web Jetadmin - Using Proactive Alerts with HP Web Jetadmin

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OVERVIEW
HP Web Jetadmin has the ability to send email messages, or alerts, whenever events occur on
printing devices. For example, error or warning conditions on devices—such as paper out or toner
low—can trigger HP Web Jetadmin to send email messages that contain detailed information
pertaining to the condition, allowing the recipient to act upon that condition immediately.
The advantage of alerts is that administrators can receive proactive, real-time warnings via email for
events that occur on networked devices. Receiving early notification of events allows administrators to
correct the problems before they impact end user productivity, saving time for both the administrator
and the end user.
Helpdesks might use alerts to proactively troubleshoot issues with devices before end users detect
them. Individuals responsible for ordering consumables, such as toner cartridges, might enable toner
low alerts so they can be warned of toner low conditions in order to proactively order toner before it
runs out.
TRAPS / POLLING / EVENTING
Once a printer is enabled to send alerts in HP Web Jetadmin, there are three different mechanisms by
which HP Web Jetadmin can be informed that a condition exists on the device:
 Traps—HP Web Jetadmin listens for real-time device traps that warn of conditions.
 Polling—HP Web Jetadmin periodically polls a device for status or remaining supplies levels.
 Eventing – HP Web Jetadmin listens for real-time web services tickets that warn of conditions.
Traps
Traps are UDP packets sent by devices when a warning or error condition occurs on the printer. One
advantage of traps is that they provide real-time alert messages, meaning an alert message is sent
instantly after an event occurs on a printer. They also minimize network traffic since they only create
network traffic as events occur on the printer.
When subscribing to events that support traps, alerts are configured on a device by adding the IP
address of the machine running HP Web Jetadmin to the SNMP Trap Destination List of the device in
addition to a unique port number. The default port number is 27892 (rather than using the
HP Jetdirect default of 162). When an event occurs on the device, it now knows exactly where to
send the trap. HP Web Jetadmin will check devices where subscriptions are active every day to
ensure the trap table is still populated with the HP Web Jetadmin IP address. If the IP address has
been removed, HP Web Jetadmin will replace it to ensure the alerts can still trigger.
When HP Web Jetadmin receives a trap, it takes the information received in the trap and sends
additional SNMP status queries to the device to gather more information. If the status condition of the
printer matches any of the configured alerts for the printer, the alert is delivered to the desired
notification type.
Polling
In the case of polling, SNMP status queries or remaining supplies level queries are sent to the printer
at user-defined intervals. If the status condition of the printer matches any of the configured alerts for
the printer, or if the remaining supply levels drop below the defined threshold, the alert is delivered to
the desired notification type.