Network printers *equipment* load balancing

[jrg]

Not "print" load balancing - printers are in multiple locations over 3
buildings.

I've just taken on maintaining a network of 18 HP 4250s with
paystations. Some get used more than others. What may the simplest way
to change equipment around to balance out usage? Worksite has "rovers"
that move toners around to help do this but the usage of the fusers
isn't addressed.
It has been suggested that I move whole printers from here to there to
accomplish balancing but it would seem easier to just move fusers rather
than the whole box but am not sure what this would do to internal page
counts.

Anyone know of an accepted method of doing this?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I understand the desire to have all the printers die at once for
warranty or service contract purposes (or maybe that's not the best idea
in terms of replacement expenses, ;-))

These are black and white printers, and they use a large high duty toner
cartridge. In theory, the toner cartridge contents are good for long
beyond any expiry date they may have. The printer itself should have
little wear when it is not in use, while in sleep mode. So the main
advantage to moving around the toner cartridges or the printers
themselves is to get the maximum use on average per printer during a
warranty or service contract period, or to try to average the wear, so
each printer has similar usage and will require similar service or
replacement at about the same time.

Other than either physically circulating the printers to even their
usage, the only other option I see if to relocate the lower use ones to
an area with more traffic, which may inconvenience those who need the
printer occasionally, by making them have to walk further.

Other than that, you could use social engineering and offer a slight
discount for the pay-stations which get less traffic naturally to try to
pick up their volume.

If your concerns are warranty or service contract considerations, or
wearing the units more evenly, the only way to do so is to move the
printer around. Just moving the toner cartridge won't really make much
difference.

In terms of the process itself, if you switch the highest use with the
lowest use printers, and leave the "average" used printers where they
are, that should lessen the amount of moving required.


Art

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[jrg]

I understand the desire to have all the printers die at once for
warranty or service contract purposes (or maybe that's not the best idea
in terms of replacement expenses, ;-))

got that right.

Other than either physically circulating the printers to even their
usage, the only other option I see if to relocate the lower use ones to
an area with more traffic, which may inconvenience those who need the
printer occasionally, by making them have to walk further.

not really an option - looking at doing direct swap - lower to higher
volume and vice versa. just wanting to avoid hassle of lugging 4250s
across a campus. Warranties not an issue - machines are just about
bullet proof but for the latest fuser I replaced which came in 100m
pages short of expected life. I'm not sure the fuser was at fault here
but replaced it to satisfy client -keeping it as a spare.

Other than that, you could use social engineering and offer a slight
discount for the pay-stations which get less traffic naturally to try to
pick up their volume.

not here...

If your concerns are warranty or service contract considerations, or
wearing the units more evenly, the only way to do so is to move the
printer around. Just moving the toner cartridge won't really make much
difference.

was afraid of that - oh well.

Thanks for the input