Secure Access to Gen5 Riva Electricity Devices using a Field Service Unit

The Field Service Unit (FSU) is a portable device that field technicians use to manage device configuration, troubleshooting, and other operations near the device installation site. The FSU connects via USB connection to the FDM Tools Mobile client, which is a Windows-based laptop or tablet to be used in the field. An application called FSU Service Tray helps facilitate the communication between the FSU and FDM software (and other field tool applications).

The FSU radio communicates with GenX devices at a frequency of 900 MHz. However, FDM Tools uses only Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz. Therefore FDM Tools does not use the FSU's communication functions. FDM Tools uses only the security credit feature of the FSU device, which ensures a secure connection. Users spend one credit each time they log into a device with FDM Tools.

To purchase FSUs, log into Itron Access, navigate to the Field Service Unit FSU product page, and click Contact Sales.

Field Service Unit - Secure Access Manager (FSU-SAM)

FSU-SAM is a software application used in conjunction with the FSU. It allows an administrator to personalize and refresh the FSU with security credits.

Personalization

This process is used on a new FSU to personalize it to a unique deployment or operator. It can also be used to wipe a used FSU and insert new credentials when moving it between environments or operators.

Personalization installs credentials (digital certificate) in the FSU, which is signed by the FSU-CA certificate, and chains the FSU to the operator of a specific deployment or environment.  This determines which deployment's or environment's devices the FSU can talk to.

Personalization also installs the initial credits.  Credits are required and consumed for every digital signature or decryption performed by the FSU.  Validating a Transport Layer Security (TLS) session for FDM Tools consumes one credit for a signature.

Refresh

Administrators use the refresh process to add additional credits to the FSU. Refreshing does not alter the existing FSU credentials.

Credit duration is utility defined and could remain valid for days or weeks. Thousands of devices can be contacted during this time period without needing to refresh the FSU with additional credits.

FSU Service Tray

FSU Service Tray is required for field tools (such as FDM) to communicate with an FSU. Refer to the following procedure to download and install FSU Service Tray on your machine.

Note: Some Itron applications automatically have FSU Service Tray bundled as part of their software package, so you may not need to separately download FSU Service Tray. For more details on which applications automatically include FSU Service Tray, see the FSU and Field Tools Installation Guide.

Installing FSU Service Tray

  1. Make sure that the FSU is not connected to your computer. If it is, disconnect it.
  2. Download the FsuServiceSetup_x64.exe file from the source provided to you by your Itron representative.

  3. In Itron Access (https://access.itron.com) navigate to the FDM Tools product page, then the downloads folder and double-click the file.

    The FSU Service - InstallShield Wizard launches.

  4. Click Next >.

    The Select Features page displays. By default, the install includes the following drivers:

    • FSU COM port drivers (FTD2) x64
    • FSU 4.0 Smart Card drivers (CCID) x64
  5. Click Next >.

  6. Click Install.

    A progress bar displays, indicating the installation progress. You are then prompted to restart your computer.

    If you select Yes, I want to restart my computer now and click Finish, your computer restarts. At this point, the installation is complete.

    If you select No, I will restart my computer later and click Finish, your installation will not be complete until you restart your computer.