Working with Itron-Developed Agents

When a utility licenses an app through the EAC, it follows that you will install the app's necessary agent(s) on the meter. This will likely include a product agent, which shares a name similar to that of the app, but also likely includes one or more test agents. While a product agent collects, processes, and sends data to the DI app (as described in Agents), a test agent's purpose is also to collect data, but for the purpose of ensuring efficiency.

Whether you are a developer who is developing and testing a new agent, or an Itron delivery team installing a DI project for a new customer, you must understand the details of how your agent is functioning. This meaning, you must understand how the product agent is expected to run:

• The metrology data to which it is supposed to subscribe

• Its RAM, CPU, and flash memory usage

• Message that indicate successful installation and start-up

• Outcome data: delivery frequency, time frames, payload, and volume

• Possible alarms and the reasons they could occur

Test agents are typically installed alongside a product agent to gather and report data about the performance of the product agent and how that agent's performance affects the meter. Test agent data is more likely to be accessed from logs and database tables than from an app with a user experience.

The following sections provide the expected memory usage and messaging details for each product and test agent. Use this documentation alongside data gathered from your test agents to determine that your agent is running as expected. In the event that you determine you agent is not running as expected, this documentation may aid in troubleshooting.

The processes of licensing apps and installing agents is managed through the EAC. For more information about how to license apps and install agents, see the Itron Enterprise Application Center's online help, here.