Identifying the source of Auto Alerts 2

[JPJeffery]

Hi

I've set up one of our HP printers (of which we have over 30) to send alerts when it's out of paper, or needs new cartridges and so on.

Having changed fields such as Device Location, Device name and so on I was expecting the test email alert to show at least one of these fields in the body or the subject field of the email to help identify the exact unit.

But it doesn't. All it does is show the device name in the FROM: email address (e.g. Printer37@acme.com), which is a good start, I suppose, yet by comparison the subject field just says '[Alerts - test] HP Color LaserJet 4700' while the body of the email is something like this:

This is a test alert. You have received this alert because you have been selected to receive information about the following product.

The product does not need attention at this time.

Product:
HP Color LaserJet 4700

Currently selected alerts:
Replace Cartridge
Replace Fuser Kit
Replace Transfer Kit
Remove Paper Jam
Close Drawers, Doors And Covers
Tray Open
Tray Empty (Load)
20 Insufficient Memory

Currently selected attachments:
Supplies Status Page

Thank you for using Hewlett-Packard products!

As most of our printers are 4700s you can imagine this isn't all that helpful and as the Device Name doesn't tell you where the printer is physically located you can imagine these email alerts aren't going to help as much as they should.

Enough rambling, can anyone tell me if it is possible to change the info to include the Device Location field, or perhaps change the Product Description to something relevant?


JJ
[small][purple]Variables won't. Constants aren't[/purple]
There is no apostrophe in the plural of PC (or PST, or CPU, or HDD, or FDD, and so on)[/small]

 

[JPJeffery]

Well, it's looking like the real email alerts do include relevant information. Bit daft that the test email doesn't more accurately reflect the real output though.

Does anyone know how often these alerts get sent and/or how often the printer checks (and from that, if the period can be changed)?

JJ
[small][purple]Variables won't. Constants aren't[/purple]
There is no apostrophe in the plural of PC (or PST, or CPU, or HDD, or FDD, and so on)[/small]

 

[hpwizzard]

If you have many printers, why not go for a Web JetAdmin 10 solution for managing these ?
WJA has customizeable alerts in most ways you can think of plus usage reports if that is needed too.

Go check

http://h20338.www2.hp.com/hpsub/cache/332262-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

 

[JPJeffery]

Well, that turned out to be a top suggestion. The new alerts are working a treat (although the recipients are complaining about the sheer volume of them, but once they catch up, they'll be fine!)

Thanks, HPWizzard

JJ
[small][purple]Variables won't. Constants aren't[/purple]
There is no apostrophe in the plural of PC (or PST, or CPU, or HDD, or FDD, and so on)[/small]

 

[JPJeffery]

Hmm, well it seems that even though when they visit the printer and find the toner levels are fine they still get 'Toner out' alerts.

This might be due to inappropriate threshold values but I'm blowed if I can find these thresholds again. Where are they?!

Also, is there a way of changing the frequency at which printers send alerts?

JJ
[small][purple]Variables won't. Constants aren't[/purple]
There is no apostrophe in the plural of PC (or PST, or CPU, or HDD, or FDD, and so on)[/small]

 

[hpwizzard]

There is some good advice on setting the alerts threshold/trappings here : ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/printers/software/wja/docs/hpwja_proactivealerts_whitepaper_en.pdf

 

[Michael52x]

HP likes to install a backgroung alert program when you install off a CD. Just say no. Look in the taskbar for an icon for this. You can delete it. WJA 10 is very good for administration, and it sounds like you are just getting duplicate alerts.

"Impatience will reward you with dissatisfaction" RMS Cosmics'97