Feature differences between HP FutureSmart 4 and HP FutureSmart 5

HP FutureSmart 5 is HP’s newest revision of Enterprise printer firmware.

HP Enterprise and HP Managed printers have two recent major firmware levels available: HP FutureSmart 4 and HP FutureSmart 5. When upgrading to a new HP FutureSmart Level, many settings are retained on the printer.

HP FutureSmart 5 includes all the features available in HP FutureSmart 4 along with new features and enhancements. For most printers, the experience will remain the same experience as HP FutureSmart 4.

HP FutureSmart 5 is being introduced with new 2021 HP Enterprise and Managed printers. When HP FutureSmart 5 is available for all compatible products, HP will only supply new product features, fixes, and enhancements with HP FutureSmart 5 firmware rolls. HP FutureSmart 5 will become the preferred operating system for all compatible printers.

Users can upgrade compatible printers to HP FutureSmart 5 to take advantage of the new capabilities that HP FutureSmart 5 will enable with future features and enhancements provided in new firmware rolls.

Note: Printers introduced to the market after Spring 2021 cannot be downgraded to FutureSmart 4. Printers introduced after Spring 2017 cannot be downgraded to HP FutureSmart 3 (HP Easy Select control panel user interface).

About HP FutureSmart firmware

HP FutureSmart firmware is a powerful operating system available on HP LaserJet and HP PageWide Enterprise and Managed printers. It enables customers to interact with and manage their printer from a control panel located at the printer or remotely from a web browser including the following features:

Note: HP FutureSmart firmware features, configuration options, and look/feel vary from printer to printer depending on the printer model.

• Install updates on your schedule.
• Ability to upgrade HP FutureSmart in small increments over time. Similar to a PC operating system, you can choose to update with service packs or to update to a new firmware level.
• Seamlessly incorporate paper documents with digital content right from the printer.
• A tablet-like interface streamlines day-to-day and maintenance operations from the control panel.
• A message center that provides detailed information and helpful animations to help manage notifications at the control panel.

Advantages of HP FutureSmart 5

HP FutureSmart 5 offers the same advanced enhancements and a high degree of customization available in HP FutureSmart 4 with some additional features.

These feature enhancements remove settings and obsolete technology to streamline operations for select new printers releasing in 2021, and to help make tasks easier and more secure for users.

Note: An administrator password is required, or the access control restrictions must be removed, to allow users to access or modify some of these features.

Deprecated or obsolete networking settings

Note: Any HP FutureSmart 4 printer that can be upgraded to HP FutureSmart 5 is not affected and the networking settings will not be deprecated when updating to HP FutureSmart 5. For a list of printers compatible with HP FutureSmart 5, go to https://www.laserpros.com/img/TechTips/printer-compatibility-with-hp-futuresmart-5.pdf.

For new products that introduce to the market starting in 2021, HP FutureSmart 5 and newer will be the installed firmware version. Some specific networking settings are obsolete and the following settings will be removed from all printers released in 2021 and newer:

• Default-IP, RARP, ARP-Ping configuration
• ACL (access control list) – Firewall is enhanced to provide the same functionality and ease of use.
• Kerberos authentication in IPSec
• FTP-Print
• TFTP configuration
• Interlock mode – Require an acknowledgment (ACK) on all TCP packets before the printer can close a port 9100 print connection. Specify a port number and parameter value.
• Telnet configuration - SNMP OIDs and/or EWS settings added to cover all unique Telnet settings.
• Dynamic RAW port in Port 9100
• Interface-specific DNS resolution/resolver

Variances from HP FutureSmart 4

Some specific variances in settings exist for products introduced in 2021with HP FutureSmart 5 and newer.

• SNMPv3 USM accounts – OIDs that allow the definition of additional accounts are not persistent. Only the account defined in the EWS will be retained through a reboot.
• DNS suffixes – total number reduced from 24-36 to six.
• DNS resolution not interface-specific
• TCP MSS (maximum segment size) – one setting applies to all interfaces
• SNMP not interface independent. Most settings are applied to all interfaces.
• IPSec – minor functionality variances
• Interface-specific secure communication settings (TLS and cipher settings)