Remote Meter Reads Gathered Automatically!
Reduce the hassle of gathering meter reads by having software gather them each month for you.
It's easy with Print Tracker!
Click Here to download, install and run the program. (Download)>>>
Below is complete information about the Print Tracker Software, F.A.Q's and Install instructions.
Click Here to (Download a PDF Version)>>>
Print Tracker is a non-invasive software solution for gathering meter reads. MWB provides free use of the licensed software for any client who has a cost per page billing program or during our PrinteGration assessment of your organization.
If you are a current customer with a per page billing contract, download and install the Print Tracker Software and we will assist you with setting up the program to automatically gather and e-mail us your meter readings prior to your billing cycle.
The program can be run from a USB drive or installed on a Network Workstation. Installation or running from USB requires minimal involvement from the onsite IT department. Meter data is passed securely through firewalls using the HTTPS protocol, in a similar way in which a web browser communicates with a banking website.
Print Tracker is proxy-compatible and does not create security vulnerabilities. When installed, Print Tracker runs as a service that is usually "asleep" and "wakes up" a few times a day to perform required tasks.
Print Tracker Frequently Asked Questions
Q-1: How does Print Tracker work?
A: Print Tracker discovers locally attached devices (printers fax or scan ports that are managed by the Windows Spooler service) as well as network devices that respond to Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) requests. Print Tracker sends out a quick broadcast to the local network requesting devices respond and then queries the devices to determine whether or not they are printing devices.
It determines if they are printing devices by seeing if they respond to standard print requests. Print Tracker then queries the workstations default gateway to get a list of nearby segments. The list of segments is then displayed on the screen so the user can tell Print Tracker which segments are to be searched for network print devices. Only the segments selected will be searched.
If a device is not discovered automatically, it can be added manually by clicking on the "Add" button and entering either the Network Name or the IP address of the device. Alternatively, entire subnets can be searched by entering the segment's first three octet strings followed by an asterisk. For example, if 10.10.10.* is entered, all devices whose IP address begins with 10.10.10 would be searched.
When devices are discovered that respond to the SNMP requests, the data is stored in a local database table or the USB drive. When it is time to send the data in a report, the data is sent to the web server using the HTTPS protocol, similarly to how your browser communicates with banking websites. HTTPS is a secure protocol. All of the data is encrypted before it is sent.
The meter data is then pulled down from the web server in a separate process, put into an Excel spreadsheet, and emailed out to the email addresses entered in Print Tracker. This process usually takes 1-2 minutes.
Q-2: What are the software and hardware requirements for Print Tracker?
A: To track network print devices, Print Tracker must be installed on a workstation running Windows 2000, XP, or later. Print Tracker requires 10 MB of hard drive space. When running, the service takes about 1 MB of memory. To track local devices, Print Tracker may be installed on workstations running Windows 98 or Me as well as those running Windows 2000, XP, or later.
Q-3: Can Print Tracker gather meter reads from remote locations?
A: Print Tracker can gather meter reads from networked devices that can be pinged from the workstation where it is installed. If the device responds to pings and SNMP requests, then meter data can be gathered.
Q-4: How does Print Tracker send the meter data? Is it secure?
A: Print Tracker communicates with the secure web server using the HTTPS protocol, similarly to how your browser communicates with banking websites. HTTPS is a secure protocol. All of the data is encrypted before it is sent. It is very secure.
The software initiates the communication using HTTPS with the CDR (Central Data Repository). It sends only the meter information and then disconnects. It never accepts inbound requests of any type.
Instructions to download, install and use Print Tracker
1 - Download and install the setup program by clicking on the download link at the top of this page. ONLY INSTALL THIS ONE TIME PER NETWORK.
You can also run the program from an MWB PrinteGration Tracker USB device if you prefer not to install the program during the PrinteGration Assessment. With this process, the program will need to be run at 2 different time intervals to get a start and end meter for each device to determine your monthly average print volume.
After installation of the program or USB device, launch the Print Tracker program. If there is a list of printers showing in the main screen before you run the scan, go to Option and Click (Clear List of Devices) before you search the Network.
2 – Enter the dealer ID (mwbbiz) and password (eval2005). Enter the email address of the MWB Representative to receive the meter reads. You can enter the client e-mail address as well by putting a comma after the MWB E-Mail.
If you have multiple scans you will need to use the EXACT same email address for each scan you do (this must be an "@mwbbiz.com" email address). If you don't have this address, please use an address where we can contact you to help with your scan results.
3 - Click the "Get License Key" button to retrieve a license key.
After you select "Save and Close," Print Tracker will automatically begin searching for locally installed printers. Then it will ask if you want to search for network printers. Select the defaults.
The computer where Print Tracker is installed needs to be connected to the internet and turned on most of the time.
4 - When you are searching the network for devices, the Network Segments dialog should display one or more network segments. The customer's local area network (LAN) is made up of one or more network segments connected by routers.
Computers communicate with each other and connect to the internet by sending data to the nearest router and the router passes the data on to the next router in the network until it reaches its final destination. The Network Segments dialog will show the network segments that are within two hops (routers) away from the system where Print Tracker is installed. THIS MAY INCLUDE EXTERNAL NETWORK SEGMENTS.
The local segment and all network segments within one hop will automatically be selected. You want to make sure that all of the appropriate segments are selected.
An onsite IT person should determine which segments should be searched and if all segments are listed. Segments may not be listed if they are more than two hops away or if the network configuration does not allow Print Tracker to gather a complete list of network segments.
If the customers LAN is small, the nearby segments may actually belong to the network provider or Internet Company. Devices on those segments may not be discovered.
5 - If a network device is not automatically discovered, add it manually by clicking on the "Add Network Device" button. If several devices on the same network segment do not show up in the list, you can search an entire network segment from the "Add Network Device" dialog by entering the first three numbers in the IP address with an asterisk. For example, enter 10.10.10.* in the IP address field to search for all devices whose IP address begins with 10.10.10.
You can click on the Email button to run a test report. Meter data will be gathered and sent to the web server encrypted via HTTPS, using the web browser if needed. Within a few minutes the data will be in the web server, ready to be reviewed.
If a device's serial number was not discovered, you may be able to right-click on the device in the list and select "Start Browser" to open the device's management console. Then you could copy and paste the serial number into Print Tracker.
6 – Once segments are founds and the scan is complete, Print Tracker will ask if you would like to run a report now?
Click Yes and the Report will be sent to the e-mail addresses in excel format.
7 - If Print Tracker is not functioning as expected or if a meter reading or serial number is incorrect, right-click on the device and select "Submit Trouble Report" or select the menu Help > Submit Trouble Report. Be sure to provide all possible information, such as the expected page counts or serial number.
If an error occurs a "Submit Error Report" dialog will be displayed. Please submit the error report and then hit the "Ignore Error" button several times to proceed. Most errors are not critical and can safely be ignored.
You will want to update an installed version of Print Tracker when you are onsite later. To perform the update, do the following:
· Start Print Tracker.
· Select the menu Help > About Print Tracker.· Click on the "Check for Newer Version" button.
· Click "Download"
Print Tracker Support If you are planning on installing Print Tracker at a site where there are a large number of printers or are planning a large deployment, please let us know so we can be available for any questions or concerns that may arise. Contact Us >>>
Call 866-629-3342 or 208-629-3342
