Preferred Installation Method

[Richariri]

Hello all,

Just out of interest I'd love to know what your preferred method of installation is?

The reason I ask is because we were discussing another company in the office and one of our techs said that the company in question 'clones' the previous machine and just copies the data onto the new one. Now if i'm not mistaken is that not just copying nvram data and/or address book data across? Can you copy access settings via telnet and then just push them onto the new machine?

I'm just interested really how people setup their MFP's.

I'll start.
After refurb we simply reset system settings and setup the copier as we see fit. I.e. change toner threshold's, turn on A3 double count, adjust margins, download stamp data and set default settings etc. etc.
We then take the machine to the site and set it up. We'll either install the drivers (predownloaded) on each individual PC or preferably work with their IT team to set the machine up on the server, this is where most issues seem to come from IMO (firewall settings), that and server 2012 issues (that's another question, what do people do as a work around for installing scanning pre 2013 machines on server 2012?)
We make sure the MFP can copy print and scan and then we book in training. DONE - right?

Essentially as I've become the main techie in our small office, i'm wondering if we're missing something.
Can i just use a piece of software or command prompt to pull all the settings and stuff off one ricoh machine and then install them on another? (super fast)

Hope my garbling has been readable..

and I look forward to hearing your responses..

GO GO RICOH RANGERS!

[Eric1968]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

You can copy the adress book contents from one Ricoh to the other, but DON'T try to copy NVRAM data from one machine to the other!

[engineers]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

Pretty much the same as you really, any information before install is useful to pre configure.
Using smart device monitor can be helpful, it scans the network and brings back any ricoh devices, you can log in and export or backup address books remotely

Just remembered, also with smart device monitor you can export and open it in excel, you can then paste in information, such as 100 peoples email addresses, then import it back onto the machine

[KenB]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

If you have SDMA, DO NOT LOSE IT!

It can't be downloaded anymore from Ricoh.

DMNX has taken its place. It does the same thing, but is a pain in the @$$ to use if you're not already familiar with it.

And about NVRAM... don't even think about it. Just don't.

[tjvincent]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

You can still get Smart device monitor for admin, here is the link SmartDeviceMonitor

[Debs1964]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

Sorry to hijack a thread, but, I have a customer (a local university) who has 2 machines in one department, they have quite a lot of entries in the address book of one device (MP3053) and want to transfer that data to their other device (MP5002). Generally I backup the address book via the WIM, then import it to the other machine, this method errors every time! I have done this loads of times in the past in other customers with no issues.

I tried backing up the address book onto an SD card, opening the file and editing relevant data (i.e. mac address etc.), I didn't think this would work...I was right.

So I downloaded Device Manager NX, now I don't know if I'm being dumb, but I can't work it out for love nor money (one of my colleagues was with me and he couldn't get any further than I could), I have just downloaded SDM using the link above, when I get a chance I'll go back in and try using that, but I am losing the will to live with this one.

I could manually programme the address book for them, it would probably only take about 45 minutes for me, but that won't help if they need to do it for other departments, and I don't like being beaten.

Does anyone have an idiots guide to using Device Manager NX that they can let me have please.

[KenB]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

You can still get Smart device monitor for admin, here is the link SmartDeviceMonitor

I stand corrected.

One of my coworkers had told me you couldn't get SDMA anymore. Not true.

Still, don't lose it. It's somewhat common knowledge that it's going away...if not gone already.

[KenB]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

Sorry to hijack a thread, but, I have a customer (a local university) who has 2 machines in one department, they have quite a lot of entries in the address book of one device (MP3053) and want to transfer that data to their other device (MP5002). Generally I backup the address book via the WIM, then import it to the other machine, this method errors every time! I have done this loads of times in the past in other customers with no issues.

I tried backing up the address book onto an SD card, opening the file and editing relevant data (i.e. mac address etc.), I didn't think this would work...I was right.

So I downloaded Device Manager NX, now I don't know if I'm being dumb, but I can't work it out for love nor money (one of my colleagues was with me and he couldn't get any further than I could), I have just downloaded SDM using the link above, when I get a chance I'll go back in and try using that, but I am losing the will to live with this one.

I could manually programme the address book for them, it would probably only take about 45 minutes for me, but that won't help if they need to do it for other departments, and I don't like being beaten.

Does anyone have an idiots guide to using Device Manager NX that they can let me have please.

You are absolutely not alone, Debs.

i pretty much gave up on it; I guess I'll need to cave eventually and learn the stoopid thing.

[SargeNZ]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

My method is to get an 'interface settings list' from user tools, enter all of that into the machine, and either back up the address book via WIM or get the client to re-enter or make changes as a training exercise. If I can I will have both machines powered up so I can compare settings directly.

Settings often forgotten in rough order: Document server files, scan-to-email filetype/resolution, faxability (75hz ringtone), fax forwarding to email.


We like to take control of the driver install. It's easier to do it right the first time than chase down issues later caused by some IT goon installing weird drivers found on some random website. Often they dont' bother to set any defaults (such as B&W or turning off duplex default or changing the default tab to 'detailed settings', or check the drawer base and finisher are detected!

[KenB]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

We like to take control of the driver install. It's easier to do it right the first time than chase down issues later caused by some IT goon installing weird drivers found on some random website. Often they dont' bother to set any defaults (such as B&W or turning off duplex default or changing the default tab to 'detailed settings', or check the drawer base and finisher are detected!

I wish I had a dollar for every time that happened... I could retire....

[slimslob]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

Some of the newer models allow you to "Clone" the settings to another like machine. Machine must be the same model and have all the same options installed. It al;lows you to copy everything that is not machine specific; Serial number, MAC, IP Address, counters, encryption keys, etc. It is very helpful when you have to deliver multiple machine to one customer. Configure one and clone the rest.

[slimslob]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

Sorry to hijack a thread, but, I have a customer (a local university) who has 2 machines in one department, they have quite a lot of entries in the address book of one device (MP3053) and want to transfer that data to their other device (MP5002). Generally I backup the address book via the WIM, then import it to the other machine, this method errors every time! I have done this loads of times in the past in other customers with no issues.

I tried backing up the address book onto an SD card, opening the file and editing relevant data (i.e. mac address etc.), I didn't think this would work...I was right.

So I downloaded Device Manager NX, now I don't know if I'm being dumb, but I can't work it out for love nor money (one of my colleagues was with me and he couldn't get any further than I could), I have just downloaded SDM using the link above, when I get a chance I'll go back in and try using that, but I am losing the will to live with this one.

I could manually programme the address book for them, it would probably only take about 45 minutes for me, but that won't help if they need to do it for other departments, and I don't like being beaten.

Does anyone have an idiots guide to using Device Manager NX that they can let me have please.

Do they have an encryption key on one of the address books?

I have had instances where I have used WIM to copy address book data from one machine to another and gotten an error message. When I exited the address and then went back in, the copied addresses were there. This usually seems to happen when the target machine already has address book content. I haven't checked if there might have been identical names.

[Iowatech]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

The reason I ask is because we were discussing another company in the office and one of our techs said that the company in question 'clones' the previous machine and just copies the data onto the new one. Now if i'm not mistaken is that not just copying nvram data and/or address book data across? Can you copy access settings via telnet and then just push them onto the new machine?

As far as the easy cloning goes, I'm starting to learn that's a Brand X specific thing. I haven't seen anything like it on the Ricohs I work on, but I haven't worked on the newer Ricoh models since the mothership changed course a few years ago.

[Debs1964]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

Do they have an encryption key on one of the address books?

I have had instances where I have used WIM to copy address book data from one machine to another and gotten an error message. When I exited the address and then went back in, the copied addresses were there. This usually seems to happen when the target machine already has address book content. I haven't checked if there might have been identical names.

I don't think there's any encryption, the user who programmed it wouldn't know how to do that, and originally we were trying to copy it from his PC across the network. The copier I want to put the address book on doesn't already have any entries so should accept the data

[Richariri]

Re: Preferred Installation Method

As far as the easy cloning goes, I'm starting to learn that's a Brand X specific thing. I haven't seen anything like it on the Ricohs I work on, but I haven't worked on the newer Ricoh models since the mothership changed course a few years ago.

Yes, I looked up cloning copier last night and discovered Sharp provide what looks like a relatively good program to do this.
I was a bit disappointing to find Ricoh's DMNXL can only clone the settings between identical machines (GW2011A).

The new models are a dream, apart from several mods we've had to fit they've all been running like beauts.