FMAUDIT

IN LAYMAN'S TERMS

FMAudit is a software program that is installed on one of the customer's networked computers. It is able to read machine data specifically from copiers and printers. It collects the meter reads on the customers machines and then pushes those meter reads to Upper Canada Office Systems.

FMAudit will keep working as long as the software is not removed from the computer or a new computer is installed.

If the customer no longer wants to participate it is very simple to remove the software and the customer will go back to either email or fax meter requests.

IN MORE DETAIL

FMAUdit is a data collection tool that automatically monitors the printer status. This application is installed at the customer site and can perform monitoring automatically on a scheduled basis without human intervention. The data captured is sent to a central website using HTTPS or HTTP.

The FMAudit product, correctly identifies and extracts data from networked printers, copiers and MFPs utilizing the protocols the devices support such the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SNMP is a network protocol that facilitates the exchange of information between MFDs extracting data from the Management Information Base (MIB) and other locations within MFD. The MIB is basically an internal database that all network MFDs have, that contains information like the model name, toner levels and the current status of the device.

FMAudit products are manufacturer neutral. They support all of the major manufacturers and model families. Some devices have limitations that prevent extraction of certain information. Printers, copiers and MFPʼs must have the SNMP protocol (Port 161) enabled for discovery and extraction of information. The SNMP protocol is a standard part of the Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite. By default the “public” SNMP community name is used, but may be modified in the FMAudit applications to support custom environment settings.

FMAudit products do not store, process, monitor or manage any print or copy information. The product engines communications are controlled, using limited access to contact a specific IP address and/or ranges. All communications must originate from the FMAudit products, and there is no way to contact and access the products from outside the network. The communication outside of the network uses a proprietary, compressed data stream that is sent using industry standard SSL over https. The FMAudit product reports the usage counts (meter readings) and status of print devices on the network. It does not communicate any information about any specific print jobs. FMAudit products do not and cannot determine anything about the information being printed. It only performs audits, on a scheduled basis, the meter readings of the device, or in the case of a device problem, an alert. The FMAudit products cannot in any way be configured to perform a task beyond the ones for which it was designed. The transmission of data from the products to outside sources is tightly restricted. The products do not report any other details except for information of the equipment being monitored (i.e. type of equipment). No print or copy related information ever leaves the network via FMAudit products.

FMAudit applications only read from networked devices and do not write to devices.

FMAudit communicates with FMAudit Central sending an encoded XML stream over port 80 or 443.

Confidential data is not collected, viewed or saved by any FMAudit application.

The FMAudit application files have been digitally signed to prevent execution if the file integrity is compromised. This ensures that any virus is not activated, and prevents spreading the virus from one network to another. For additional assurance, we recommend using antivirus software.

FMAudit uses an intelligent system that extracts minimal information for each printer, copier or MFP. Unlike similar products that send a fixed set of queries (a superset of all possible queries) to every networked device, the FMAudit family of products only sends the relevant queries according to the fields the target device supports, with each device query being no more than a few kb of data. To further reduce the amount of network bandwidth used, the FMAudit core engine communicates with no more than 20 devices at a single time. Each IP within the configured ranges will be queried and if no response is received within the configured timeout period it will move onto the next IP address. A rule-of-thumb is that FMAudit will gather information on 65,000 devices in a little more than one hour.

To sign up click HERE or contact the service department @ 613-547-8070 X329.