System and method for updating software and version control in a production printer

A production printer having multiple input sources and an output source includes a Web server, a print server, and a printer. The Web server controls a repository of software and data that supports the software. A print server linked to the Web server is configured to download and install software stored on the Web server. The printer linked to the print server produces images on sheets received from one or more of the input sources. A method of downloading and installing software from a publicly accessible network into a printer includes: launching a monitoring program that searches across a publicly accessible network to generate a list of software, recording the addresses of potential software to be copied to one of a remote and a local interface; and installing the software in a memory to be installed immediately or stored for a later installation.