FMAudit Network Requirements & Impact

FMAudit Process:
FMAudit discovers, audits and extracts information from networked printers, copiers and faxes using SNMP.

Although SNMP Commands support both read and write operations, FMAudit applications only read networked devices and do not modify any default or custom device settings.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

Definition:
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an application layer protocol that facilitates the exchange of management information between network devices. It is part of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol suite.

Two versions of SNMP exist: SNMP version 1 (SNMPv1) which is widely used and is the de facto network-management protocol in the Internet community and SNMP version 2 (SNMPv2). Both versions have a number of features in common, but SNMPv2 offers enhancements.

Basic Components:
An SNMP-managed network consists of three key components: management application (FMAudit applications), agents (printers, copiers and faxes), and network-management systems (NMSs).

SNMP Management Information Base:
A Management Information Base (MIB) is a collection of information that is organized hierarchically. MIBs are accessed using a network-management protocol such as SNMP. They are comprised of managed objects and are identified by object identifiers.

A managed object (sometimes called a MIB object, an object, or a MIB) is one of any number of specific characteristics of a managed device. Managed objects are comprised of one or more object instances, which are essentially variables.

An object identifier (or object ID) uniquely identifies a managed object in the MIB hierarchy. The MIB hierarchy can be depicted as a tree with a nameless root, the levels of which are assigned by different organizations.

Network Impact:
By default, FMAudit broadcasts a general request over the LAN (local area network) using SNMP.  Any networked devices respond with their specific IP address to this request, in addition to the patented FMAudit local workstation service that supports printers attached via LPT1 or USB.  FMAudit uses a highly compacted query that filters and optimizes any further network traffic to printers alone, where upon FMAudit audits the networked printer with more specific queries.  These queries access general and manufacturer proprietary object identifiers.  You may also choose to query only specific IP addresses during an audit, and forego the general broadcast.  Using this process, you may include other site locations that are networked over a WAN (wide area network).  The amount of network traffic is minimal as a result, even with 1,000's of printers on the network.