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 will notify you when toner levels are low.

To configure the printer monitor:

1. From the WhatsUp Gold web interface, click GO. The GO menu appears.
2. If the WhatsUp section is not visible, click WhatsUp. The WhatsUp section of the GO menu appears.
3. Select Configure > Active Monitor Library. The Active Monitor Library 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.

4. Click New, select SNMP Monitor, then click OK. The Add SNMP Monitor dialog appears.
5. Enter a Name and Description for the monitor. For example, TonerMonitor and Toner monitor for the Hewlett Packard LaserJet 4050N.

   For the Object ID and Instance, click the browse (...) button; then locate and find 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

6. 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 will fail when the printer toner level reaches 99.
7. Test the newly created active monitor and make appropriate changes if needed.
8. Assign the active monitor to the printer device, click Device Properties > Active Monitors.
9. In the active monitor dialog, click Add.
10. During the configuration wizard, create or select an action to notify you when the printer's toner levels are low.

Repeat steps 6-8 for each network printer that requires monitoring.