Task runner type

This code table defines values for the IEE task runners. Task runners are a type of IEE service that monitor the task queue, perform task instances, then return to the queue for another task.

During installation IEE creates default task runners. However, Itron recommends that you create your own task runner types and do not use the DefaultRunnerType. Task runners start automatically. For better performance, create more task runners for robust servers and fewer task runners for slower machines to achieve optimal load balance.

You can also enable and disable individual task runners to free up resources. For example, if task runner A is assigned to a CPU-intensive task, you might temporarily disable task runner B to give A more power.

To avoid adversely affecting IEE system performance, consider the number of threads used when you configure the number of available task runners. The number of threads allocated to perform various services are defined in the system settings for those services.

If you add or delete task runners, restart the Itron Task Service to verify the change takes effect.

Note: Itron recommends creating your own Task Runner Type. Later, you can return to this code table and add additional task runners as needed.

Configuring the Task Runner Type Code Table

1. Go to System Administration > System Admin > Code Table Setup.

2. From the Code Table Selection List, select Task Runner Type Table.

3. Use the Number of rows to insert on add dropdown menu select the number of blank rows to add to the code table.

4. From the Code Table Setup menu, click Add. The new rows appear in the table.

5. Click to select the row that you added.

6. Enter a Task Runner Type ID. Each task runner must have a unique name.

   For example, if you set up two servers (A and B), each with one task runner, the default ID for each task runner is DefaultRunnerType. If you start the Task Service on A, it will look for "DefaultRunnerType" and may find the one for B. If so, then any tasks run on server A will show in the Task Monitor as having run on server B.

7. Assign this task runner a Priority Filter. This task runner can run only tasks with this priority or higher. Set to 99 to allow this task runner to handle tasks of any priority.

   Task Runner Priority Filter

   The task runner priority filter logic says “only accept tasks with this priority or higher” (for example, numeric task priority <= runner priority filter). The default runner has a priority filter of 99, which allows it to run any task. Think of 99 as the lowest priority and 1 as the highest priority.

   Task priorities range from 1 to 99. One is the highest priority and 99 is the lowest priority. If a runner sees multiple tasks that are ready to run, the task runner selects the task with the highest priority. The highest priority equates to the lowest number.

   Most tasks have a priority of 50. When the interrogation runner’s priority filter is 50, it accepts interrogation jobs with a priority up to 50. If you change the runner’s priority filter to 30, it stops accepting interrogation jobs that have a priority lower than 30. This means that the tasks with the priority of 50, will not run.

8. From the list of Available Tasks, click a Task Type this task runner will be able to perform.

9. Use the > button to add the task to the Selected Tasks list.

10. Repeat until all of the task types for this task runner are in the Selected Tasks list.

11. In the Selected Tasks list, click the Priority field of any task for which you wish to update the priority level. This task runner will select task types from the queue according to the priorities you set here.

    Task priorities range from 1 to 99. One is the highest priority and 99 is the lowest priority. If a runner sees multiple tasks that are ready to run, the task runner selects the task with the highest priority. The highest priority equates to the lowest number.

12. (Optional) To remove a task from Selected Tasks, click the X in the first column of the Selected Tasks table.

13. (Optional) To clear the Selected Tasks table, click Reset.

14. Click Save to save the task runner configuration.

15. Restart the Itron Task Runner Service (IEE v6.0 and lower) or the Itron Task Service (IEE v7.0 and higher).