Overview:

The Carbon Six Data Collector Agent (DCA) is a software application that is installed on a networked computer running Windows 2000/XP or higher to collect printer and copier metrics to be used in the Optimizer application. It does not require a dedicated computer.

Windows Service

The Carbon Six DCA runs as a Windows service, allowing it to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can customize the transmission interval to determine how often the DCA will perform a device discovery. After each discovery, the collected data will be sent to the hosting web server.

Data Collection Protocols

The Carbon Six DCA collects device data using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), and optionally PJL (Printer Job Language). The DCA gathers printer metric data with SNMP and ICMP at regular intervals from printer/multi-function peripheral devices on the customer’s network.

Transmission Options

There are 3 methods by which you can transmit the data collected from the Carbon Six DCA, as listed below:

FTP, Port 21

File Transfer Protocol. The standard protocol used to transfer files over the internet between computers.

HTTP, Port 80

HyperText Transfer Protocol. A protocol used to transfer information over the World Wide Web.

HTTPS, Port 443

Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol. Data is transferred using the HTTP protocol, but instead of using plain text socket communication, the data is 128-bit encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol during transit between the user’s computer and the server itself.

To prepare a web server for accepting https connections the administrator is required to create a public key certificate for the web server. This certificate must be signed by a certificate authority of one form or another, ensuring the user that the certificate holder is who they say they are.

One Way Communication Only

The Carbon Six DCA uses one-way communication only. This means that the collected data can be transmitted from the user’s computer to the web server, but the web server cannot transmit information to the user’s computer.

No User Data Collected

No personal or user data is collected with the DCA. Only information that is stored in the memory of the devices is collected, such as page counts, device description, device status, and so on.

PrintFleet Optimizer Web Portal

The web server is physically stored in a Class-A data center. This data center has over eight fiber optic backbones feeding into it to ensure year-round 24/7 uninterrupted availability.

Security background checks and iris scan access are required to gain physical access to the server. When physical access to the server is required, security personnel accompany the individual at all times. The data center has a triple redundancy energy system preventing power loss of any kind.

The web server farm is protected by an ISA software firewall that is completely locked down to only allow required communication. Data is mirrored and backed up daily. Should the primary server go down for any reason, the feed is switched over to the secondary mirrored server.