What is SMart eSolutions?
How does it work?
What equipment do I need?
What impact does Xerox SMart eSolutions client have on my network?
Can Xerox gain access to my network?
Is my data secure?
Who at my company needs to be involved in this?
Why are some or all of the printers I registered for SMart eSolutions missing from the "Automated Equipment Detected" page in Part 3 of the Install Guide?
What happens when the server with CentreWare Web installed is turned off?
What if I install a new piece of equipment at a later date?
What if one of my devices has to be replaced?
What if one of my devices breaks down?
Where can I go for support?
What is SMart eSolutions?
Xerox SMart eSolutions is a new system designed to take the hassle out of collecting and submitting meter readings and supplies data from Xerox equipment via a hands-free, secure data transmission process.
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How does it work?
Xerox SMart eSolutions works by loading Xerox software onto your PC. This software talks to Xerox devices to get the necessary data and send it back to Xerox using standard Internet protocols similar to those used for business-to-business transactions.
Setting up Xerox SMart eSolutions requires three steps:
1. Install the Xerox SMart eSolutions Client
2. Configure Xerox SMart eSolutions Client
3. Sign up at Xerox.com.
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What equipment do I need?
CentreWare® Web is designed to be installed only on specific computers running the Windows operating systems defined below.
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional,and Windows Server 2003
What impact does Xerox SMart eSolutions client have on my network?
SMart eSolutions uses standard industry protocols to communicate between CentreWare® Web and your printers approximately every two hours. SNMPv2 is used to read the MIBs, which contain the meter read values for billing and supplies usage data for replenishment. CentreWare® Web communicates with the Xerox Communication Server once a day using Web service protocols, including:
There are several different types of transactions that can occur between CentreWare® Web and the Xerox Communication Server. The network loading varies based on the type of transaction and the number of devices that are in the CentreWare® Web group. These transactions are:
Registering the CentreWare® Web Proxy and Devices with Xerox
Allows Xerox to identify and authenticate the proxy and devices. This communication happens only once in the life cycle of the CentreWare® Web proxy and devices.
reg proxy = 1526 bytes
reg proxy device = 393x + 1503 bytes
Total: reg proxy + proxy devices = 393x + 3029 bytes
x = the number of devices
Sync Request
Sent once a day by the proxy.
sync proxy request = 1425 bytes
Sync Request Response
Tells CentreWare Web to turn on SMart eSolutions for each device.
sync proxy request response = 1510x + 1425 bytes
Sync Status
Lets Xerox know that the Xerox SMart eSolutions service has been turned on, enabling Xerox to know that a request can be made and responded to. This communication happens only once in the life cycle of the device.
sync proxy status = 260x + 1247 bytes
Billing Transaction Request
The response from Xerox asking for meter reads to be sent once each billing cycle, whether monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.
sync proxy request response = 1510x + 1425 bytes
Billing Transaction Response
CentreWare Web sends the billing meter reads once per billing transaction request for each device
billing transaction response = 1314x + 1993 bytes
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Can Xerox gain access to my network?
1. In order to participate, you must personally initiate device registration and sign up for the SMart eSolutions service. CentreWare® Web will not automatically find and register your equipment unless you enable it to do so.
2. All transactions between CentreWare® Web and the Xerox Communication Server are initiated within your environment by CentreWare® Web. There is no way for Xerox to initiate the communications to CentreWare® Web or for Xerox to probe your network.
3. You can turn off communication to Xerox at any time.
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Is my data secure?
1. All communications occur over a secure channel using 128 bit SSL with server side certificates. This means that the data is encrypted and communications to CentreWare® Web must hold a valid certificate from Xerox.
2. No customer data is communicated to Xerox. The only data that is sent for Xerox SMart eSolutions is the printer serial number, the meter name, the meter values, supplier usage values, and the date of the reading.
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Who at my company needs to be involved in this?
For SMart eSolutions to run properly, CentreWare® Web must be installed first and the Xerox eligible equipment signed up at Xerox.com. Because SMart eSolutions involves loading software on the network, it is likely that approvals need to be provided by your Network Administrator or someone with similar responsibilities at your company.
SMart eSolutions installation may involve an IT Administrator and the Equipment Administrator.
The IT Administrator is needed to:
The person within your organization who is responsible for providing Xerox with the information specific to your equipment will need to:
Why are some or all of the printers I registered for SMart eSolutions missing from the "Automated Equipment Detected" page in Part 3 of the Install Guide?
1. You may not have allowed sufficient time for CentreWare® Web to complete communications with the Xerox Communication server as required to register your equipment for SMart eSolutions. You must allow a minimum of one hour for printer registration to take effect before beginning Part 3 of the Install Guide.
2. Some or all of the equipment that was discovered and registered for SMart eSolutions by CentreWare® Web may be assigned to another individual at your firm for purposes of reporting meter reads. This can be resolved in one of two ways:
3. For equipment that has been installed within the last 30 days it is possible that it has not yet been entered in to the administrative systems used for SMart eSolutions. If you believe this to be the case you should return to the Account Management section of Xerox .com at a later date.
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What happens when the server with CentreWare Web installed is turned off?
There will be no meter read data collected or sent to Xerox while the server is powered off. CentreWare® Web will resume this activity when the server is powered on again. If Xerox does not receive meter reads when expected, a notification is sent by email to the key user at your company.
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What if I install a new piece of equipment at a later date?
CentreWare® Web will detect that a new device has been added to your environment. You can then choose to register it via the Administration page within CentreWare® Web.
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What if one of my devices has to be replaced?
To activate Smart eSolutions for the replacement device follow the process for installing a new device, described above.
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What if one of my devices breaks down?
If your device breaks down it is typically repaired by the following day and it is unlikely that it will ever be out of action for more than a week. CentreWare® Web will allow for this and will pick up on the automatic meter reads again when the device is up and running.
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Where can I go for support?
Xerox provides a comprehensive On-line Support Assistant at www.xerox.com/smartesolutions
Upgrading CentreWare® Web
If you currently use a previous version of CentreWare® Web and would like to participate in the SMart eSolutions program, follow these steps to upgrade to CentreWare® Web 4.1.
From version 3.6 to 4.1
1. Backup all databases using the CentreWare® Web configuration tool
2. Install version 4.1 (all data will be preserved)
From version 3.5 to 4.1
1. Backup all databases using the CentreWare® Web configuration tool
2. Install CentreWare® Web version 3.6 available from www.xerox.com/centrewareweb
3. Install CentreWare® Web version 4.1
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