Enterprise AutoConfiguration (EAC) uses bidirectional communication to provide autoconfiguration functionality for installation of the print driver over a network, whether you use the installer on your printing-system software CD or the Add Printer wizard to install the driver. Driver installation that includes EAC is configured with the same settings as the physical configuration of the product. Configuration occurs without user interaction.
If bidirectional-communication software has been installed previously, EAC is not activated, and the pre-existing bidirectional-communication software is used to configure the print driver.
If bidirectional communication software has not been installed, EAC installs bidirectional-communication software that allows it to communicate with the product and automatically match the print driver with the actual product configuration. EAC is activated during installation of the driver or whenever the Update Now feature is used.
If the configuration of the HP Color LaserJet 4700 changes after installation, the driver can be automatically updated with the new configuration in environments that support bidirectional communication by using the Update Now feature.
The following tables show the availability of EAC for various operating systems and network environments that support bidirectional communication.
EAC availability in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Share
Method
|
Connection type
|
Microsoft Windows
|
Microsoft Share¹
|
98
|
Me
|
2000
|
XP
|
2000/XP host with 2000/XP client
|
Installer
|
Direct connect
|
Parallel
|
x
|
x
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
USB
|
x
|
x
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Network
|
Jetdirect
|
TCP/IP
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Standard
|
TCP/IP (HP)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
TCP/IP (MS)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Add Printer
|
Direct connect
|
Parallel
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
USB
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Network
|
Jetdirect
|
TCP/IP
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Standard
|
TCP/IP (HP)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
TCP/IP (MS)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
¹This column represents the following Microsoft Share configurations: 1. Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 Server host with Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, or Windows Me client. 2. Windows NT 4.0 host with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 98, or Windows Me client. 3. Windows 98 or Windows Me host with any client.
²In this environment, client machines use Point and Print to download the configured driver from the host.
EAC availability in Novell Netware environments
Method
|
Connection type
|
Novell
|
Netware 4.x
|
Netware 5.x
|
Bindery queue
|
NDS queue
|
Bindery queue
|
|
Network
|
Jetdirect
|
TCP/IP
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Standard
|
TCP/IP (HP)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
TCP/IP (MS¹)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
¹Bidirectional functionality is supported only with the client software from Novell. It is not supported with Microsoft Client Service for NetWare.