CompTIA A+ 220-1201 (3.7 - Multifunction Devices)

Multifunction devices

• Multifunction devices (MFD)

- Printer

- Scanner

- Fax (yes, really)

- Network connection

- Phone line connection

- Print from web

• A lot of things can go wrong

- You're going to fix them

Unboxing a device

• These can be large devices

- Make sure you have enough room

- Stay out of walkways

• Check the area

- Power

- Network

- Accessibility

Printer drivers

• Specific to a printer model

• Get this exactly right

• Get the right operating system drivers

- Windows 10, Windows 11

- Get the right version of the operating system

- 32-bit drivers are very different than 64-bit drivers

• You can't mix and match drivers

- It's a very specific task

PCL or PostScript

• PCL (Printer Command Language)

- Created by Hewlett-Packard

- Commonly used across the industry

• PostScript

- Created by Adobe Systems

- Popular with high end printers

• Make sure the drivers match the printer

- PCL printer, PCL driver

- PostScript printer, PostScript driver

- Wired device sharing

Firmware

• The internal "operating system" of the multifunction device

- Starts the system

- Connects to the network

- Interprets the incoming data stream

- Runs the printing process

• Update the firmware to avoid any incompatibilities

- And probably fix a few bugs

• Get the latest firmware from the device website

- Install from a stable platform and power source The most common connector

Wired device sharing

• USB

- The most common connector

- USB Type B on the printer,

USB Type A on the computer

- Or, USB-C everywhere

• Ethernet - RJ45 connector

• May include more than one option

Wireless device sharing

• Bluetooth - Limited range

• 802.11 Infrastructure mode

- Many devices using an access point

• 802.11 Ad hoc mode

- No access point

- Direct link between wireless devices

Sharing the printer

• Printer share

- Printer is connected to a computer

- The computer shares the printer

- Computer needs to be running

• Print server

- Print directly to the printer

- Jobs are queued on the printer

- Jobs are managed on the printer

- Web-based front-end

- Client utility

Configuration settings

• Duplex

- Save paper

- Print on both sides of the page without manually

flipping over the paper

- Not all printers can do this

• Orientation

- Portrait vs. Landscape

- The paper doesn't rotate

- The printer compensates

• Tray settings

- Printers can have multiple trays

- Plain paper, letterhead, etc.

- Choose the correct tray in the print dialog

• Quality

- Resolution / Color, greyscale / Color saving

Printer security

• User authentication

- Everyone can print

- Set rights and permissions

- Printing vs. managing the printer

• Badging

- Authenticate when using the printer

- Your job doesn't print until you use your

employee badge

- Quick and easy

• Audit logs

- Cost management

- Security monitoring

- Event Viewer / System Events

- May be built into the printer or print server

• Secured prints

- Printer must support secure printing

- Define a passcode

- Use the passcode at the printer

Flatbed scanner

• Different form factors

- All-in-one multifunction device

- Standalone flatbed

• May include an ADF

- Automatic Document Feeder, multiple pages

Network scan services

• Scan to email

- Scans are sent to your inbox

- Large scans can fill up your mailbox

• Scan to folder

- Using SMB (Server Message Block)

- Send to a Microsoft share

• Scan to cloud

- Cloud storage account

- Google Drive, Dropbox, etc