Example: Monitoring Network Printer Toner Levels

To avoid running out of printer ink in the middle of print jobs, or wasting toner by switching toner cartridges before they are empty, through WhatsUp Gold you can create a custom SNMP active monitor that notifies you when toner levels are low.

To configure a printer monitor:

1. From the WhatsUp Gold web interface, go to Admin > Monitors. The Monitor Library dialog appears.
2. Click New, select SNMP Monitor, then click OK. The Add SNMP Monitor dialog appears.You need to create an active monitor for each printer type in use. It may be that the office uses the same printer type in each office. In this example, we are using a Hewlett Packard LaserJet 4050N. Check your network printers for their specific maximum capacity toner levels.
3. Enter a Name and Description for the monitor. For example, TonerMonitor and Toner monitor for the Hewlett Packard LaserJet 4050N.
4. For the Object ID and Instance, click browse (...), then locate the prtMarkerSuppliesLevel (OID 1.3.6.1.2.1.43.11.1.1.9) SNMP object in the MIB object tree. This SNMP object is found in the MIB tree at:
   mgmt > mib 2 > printmib > prtMarkerSupplies > prtMarkerSuppliesEntry > prtMarkerSuppliesLevel
5. Select Range of Values from the type drop down menu and enter 4600 (the maximum capacity toner level) as the High value and 100 as the Low Value, then click OK. The action fails when the printer toner level reaches 99.
6. Test the newly created active monitor and make appropriate changes if needed.
7. Assign the active monitor to the printer device, click Properties > Active Monitors. The Device Properties Active Monitor dialog appears.
8. Click Add.
9. During the configuration wizard, create or select an action to notify you when the printer’s toner levels are low.
10. Repeat steps 4-6 for each network printer that requires monitoring.

See Also Adding and editing a SNMP Active Monitor Selecting an object in the MIB Tree Example: Monitoring TCP Connections Established for a Device