HP Unveils Strategy For Future Of Printer Management; Internet Solutions Operation Introduces First Web-based Solution to Support Existing Printers

Business Wire,  Nov 4, 1996  

Tags: Hewlett-Packard Co., Internet, printer, strategy, Web

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PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 1996-- Hewlett-Packard Company today unveiled its strategy for future printer management with the introduction of HP Web JetAdmin, an intranet-based version of the company's award-winning JetAdmin family of printer-management solutions. Web JetAdmin offers corporate intranet users an easy way to monitor and manage network printers from standard Web browsers. Web JetAdmin is the only Web-based printer-management solution that provides support for all JetDirect-connected printers, existing and future. Web JetAdmin supports more than 70 HP printers and virtually any printer connected to an HP JetDirect EX print server. It also offers a variety of sophisticated features.

"The ability to view printer status remotely and graphically through a Web-based application such as Web JetAdmin will be increasingly important as more and more companies move to Internet and intranet architectures," said Keith Brown, marketing manager for HP's Internet Solutions Operations. "Web JetAdmin is the industry's only hardware-independent, Web-based printer-management solution."

Web JetAdmin offers a simple and flexible way to manage all HP and non-HP printers connected to a network via an HP JetDirect print server. This is possible because Web JetAdmin is a complete software solution and does not have to rely on special firmware embedded in the printer. The hardware independence of Web JetAdmin also makes it easy for administrators to update its capabilities as new versions become available. To do this, users simply download new versions from HP's Web site (http://www.hp.com) and load them on to their Web server.

ADVANCED PRINTER MONITORING

Web JetAdmin provides users with advanced printer-monitoring capabilities, including a special custom mapping feature. Administrators can easily set up a map of their facilities, complete with cubicles, offices and other recognizable "landmarks" and then place printer icons representing their printers at appropriate spots on the map. Once installed, these icons change color depending upon the status of the printer. Users and administrators quickly can check the status and location of all printers in the office by viewing the map. Detailed information on a specific printer is then provided by clicking on the corresponding printer icon.

Other features of Web JetAdmin include the following:

o Browser-based GUI -- An intuitive and easy way to view and manage printers, the browser-based GUI features buttons and access to device groups. The GUI is integrated directly with the Web browser, placing printer management right on the user's desktop with no client software to install.

o Remote Access -- Administrators can manage devices without having to use a PC connected to the same local network. This process allows off-site access to Web JetAdmin for easy printer management anytime, anywhere.

o Three-tiered Security -- Administrators can define passwords for Web JetAdmin access, device groups and individual devices according to their specific management strategy. Users just point their browser to the Web pages created by the administrator to see all devices available to them.

"OPERATION CAMOUFLAGE" EXTENDED

Web JetAdmin is the latest in a series of cutting-edge JetAdmin solutions introduced since HP first announced Operation Camouflage in 1995. Operation Camouflage is the company's strategic initiative to simplify network printing by directly integrating printer-management functionality into users' computing environments. HP has worked closely with IBM, Microsoft, Novell and others to develop and integrate printer-management software into the most widely used computing platforms. The result has been a complete family of printer-management software that provides users with intuitive, transparent and powerful network printing.

"Throughout Operation Camouflage, HP has established itself as the world leader in network printer management," said Brown. "Web JetAdmin is the latest offering in HP's full family of network printer-management solutions and is HP's next step in delivering industry-leading network printing solutions."

BROADEST SUPPORT IN THE INDUSTRY

HP recently announced a number of next-generation JetAdmin solutions, including JetAdmin for Windows NT and JetAdmin for OS/2 Warp server. HP offers continued support for Windows 95, HP-UX, Solaris and SunOS environments. Each of these solutions provides users and administrators with the most comprehensive and sophisticated printer-management features available.

JETADMIN FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS NT

JetAdmin for Windows NT supports Microsoft's latest version (4.0) of this popular network operating system and, unlike some competitive products, also is backward compatible with Version 3.51. JetAdmin for Windows NT is special in that it supports both TCP/IP and SPX/IPX protocols. While other solutions support only certain designated printers, JetAdmin for Windows NT supports more than 70 HP devices, including HP's newest peripherals.