converge 3.8.5 release notes

8/10/2019 Converge 3.8.5 Release Notes

1/17

ICG Solution

Converge

CONVERGE 3.8.5

RELEASE NOTESCONVERGE 3.8.5.0

Published: 15th

September 2014 Landis+Gyr s.r.o

Plzesk3185/5a

150 00 Prague 5

Czech Republic

+420 251 119 511

[email protected]

www.landisgyr.com

Copyright Landis+Gyr 2014

All rights reserved


2/17

Landis+Gyr Gridstream ICG Solution CONVERGE

1

1 Table of contents

1 Table of contents .............................................................................................................. 1

2 About Release ................................................................................................................... 23 Release Scope ................................................................................................................... 2

4 Release History ................................................................................................................. 3

5 Product Lifecycle ............................................................................................................... 3

6 Supported platforms ......................................................................................................... 4

7 Deployment scenarios ...................................................................................................... 5

8 Oracle Exadata Ready: target 500 000 MPs ..................................................................... 6

9 Changes in licensing, license file and related features ..................................................... 8

9.1 New license file format .................................................................................................. 89.2 New feature to apply license file ................................................................................... 8

9.3 Built-in license ............................................................................................................... 8

9.4 New licensing policy ...................................................................................................... 9

9.5 Existing license transition .............................................................................................. 9

10 Remote Connect/Disconnect .......................................................................................... 10

11 Billing Values Audit ......................................................................................................... 10

12 Excel Report output formats .......................................................................................... 10

13 Scheduled Events Manager ............................................................................................ 11

14 Multi-Utility support ....................................................................................................... 11

15 Supported Devices .......................................................................................................... 12

16 Legacy Features and Obsolete Components .................................................................. 14

17 Compatibility................................................................................................................... 15


3/17

Converge 3.8.5 Release Notes

2

2 About Release

Converge 3.8.5 is the latest release of Landis+Gyr Grid stream ICG Solution Converge 3.8.

Key benefits of the new version are:

Increased maximum number of remotely acquired metering points to 500 000

Oracle Exadata Readycertified

Support of latest platforms and technology:

Windows Server 2012 R2

Oracle 12c

Excel 2013

Support for remote connect/disconnect

Enhanced auditability on user changes to meter data

Better support for Multi-Utility customers

Ready for Smart Metering point-to-point data collection

Released: September 2014

3 Release Scope

Converge 3.8.5 is generally available with no restrictions.

This release is designated for:

Newinstallation

Migrationto new hardware and platforms (x64)

Upgradefrom former version (supported: 3.7.x, 3.6.x, 3.6, 3.5.2).

Please contact CSC to plan the upgrade.

Upgrade from older version on request, please consult with CSC.

Updateof existing Converge 3.8 to the latest version

For upgrade, please contact Landis+Gyr Customer Services Center in Prague, Czech Republic atfollowing contact:

Dalibor Janckulk

Head Customer Services CenterLandis+Gyr PragueOffice : + 420 251 119 559Mobile : + 420 724 391 [email protected] energy better
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.landisgyr.cz/http://www.landisgyr.cz/http://www.landisgyr.cz/mailto:[email protected]


4/17


5/17


4

6 Supported platforms

Converge 3.8.5 introduces support for latest technology and platforms.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Oracle Database 12c

Microsoft Excel 2013

Following table lists supported platforms Converge 3.8.5 is designated for.

Platform Note

Application

server

Operating system:



Virtualization:

VMware

Hyper-V

English

Latest service packs and patches applied

Database

Database:

Oracle 12c (12.1)

Oracle 11g R2 (11.2)

High Availability:

Oracle RAC Oracle DataGuard

High-Tech:

Oracle Exadata

Any platform supported by Oracle

Oracle Exadata Ready certified

Browser

Internet Explorer 11 (32-bit)



IE11 strongly recommended

Latest security patches applied

Compatibility View mode disabled

IE8 and older not supported

64-bit versions not supported

Excel

Excel 2013

Excel 2010

Excel 2007

OpenXML format (xlsx, xlsm, xlsb) fully

supported

Output to PDF or XPS available

Recommended 32-bit (x86) version *)

*) Refer to Microsoft Support article Choose the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Office.


6/17


5

7 Deployment scenarios

As a mission-critical application, Converge 3.8.5 is designed for and supports different

deployment scenarios addressing following goals or its combinations:

High Availability

Disaster Recovery

Data-Loss Protection

High Performance

Scalability

Below is a brief description of some existing production deployments Converge 3.8.5 is

perfectly suitable for. There is always at least one reference to a real production system for

each scenario.

Details about target architecture of the solution are outside the scope of this document.

Cold

StandBy

Utilizes:

Oracle DataGuard

Primary Database with on-line replication

to StandBy Database.

Redundant application servers1:1 server

installation, cold standby servers ready to

startusing StandBy database after

Switchoveror Failoverevent.

Load

Balancing

+

Fast

Failover on

surviving

nodes

Utilizes

Oracle RAC

VMware ESX server

Database operations secured with Oracle

Real Application Cluster configured for

Load Balancing and Connection Failover.

Application server on hypervisor with

dynamic on-demand resource allocation,

certain capacity always reserved.

Spare VM images for quick fully automated

restore of failed nodes.

GeoCluster

Utilizes:

Hyper-V Server

Hardware online

replication

Primary and Backup sites geographically

dislocated.

Application servers virtualized.

Online hardware replication (bit mirroring)

of whole storage containing both database

as well as virtual machines.


7/17


8/17


7

Instant Register

Values

Value every day

5 instant register per MP

Total Instant register Value variables:

2 500 000

Total Values (10 years):9 125 000 000

Outcome:

1. Almost instant responses of the user interface of the Gridstream Converge Data

Acquisition.

2. Seamless behaviour of the Gridstream Converge on Oracle Exada platform.

Results: Landis+Gyr Gridstream Converge certified

Gridstream CONVERGE3.8.5

500 000 MPs

R E A D Y


9/17


8

9 Changes in licensing, license file and related features

Licenseis a term referring to the rightto use software, its components or features. It is rather

a legal term and usually there is an agreement (EULA) which defines subjects of the license.

License fileis electronic evidence of the license. When applied to the system, the license file

controls which components and features are available in what extent; and those end-users are

not entitled to use are hidden.

Converge 3.8.5 introduces new license file formatand comes with new feature to apply it to

the system. There is also built-in license, a default limited license available when no other

license file is applied.

9.1 New license file format

The license file is newly protected against unauthorized modifications by employing digital

signature, providing enhanced security and authenticity of the file.

Formerly issued license files require re-issuing. Ask for your current license in new license file

format at your Landis+Gyr support contact. The file will be provided free of charge.

9.2 New feature to apply license file

Formerly the license file was applied during installation; updates required server administrator

with specific skills to do it.

Newly the license file is applied to the system through standard Converge user interface (GUI),

which does not require server administrator to be involved in license update. Also the license

file is not needed during installation.

The main benefit of this new approach is the ability to separate server administration from

license management; a fundamental requirement in case of outsourced application hosting.

Next benefit is the simplicity and intuitive usage which does not require any specific skills.

Converge standard security mechanism is used to control which user has permission to update

a license.

9.3 Built-in license

Starting with Converge 3.8.5, when the system is installed for the first time (including upgrade

or update from previous version), a built-in license is in effect.

The built-in license is in effect until first legal license file is applied.

This built-in license is limited in its use and is intended only for demonstration or testing

purposes.

Additional use of the built-in license is to power up the system for the time being before

proper license file is issued and applied.

Especially this comes in handy when performing upgrade from former version or brand-new

system installation.


10/17


9

The built-in license shall not be used for production environments.

9.4 New licensing policy

Converge 3.8.5 applies new licensing policy introduced in Converge 3.8 as published byLandis+Gyr.

Users

Changed from number of concurrentusers to number of total definedusers.

In Converge 3.8 number of licensed users expresses a maximum number of user

accounts which can be defined in the system.

Servers

In Converge 3.8 number of DA servers in the system is licensed. Number of DA

servers is always determined by volume, frequency, number of parallel

communication channels and given time range of the data acquisition.

Drivers

In Converge 3.8 every different type of metering device is supported and licensed

separately. New licensing model is based on manufacturer and device type; opposite

to former protocol-based licensing.

For more details about licensing refer to Landis+Gyr Gridstream Converge License Policy

statement.

9.5 Existing license transition

Existing licenses need to be transitioned into the new policy.

For details, please contact your local Landis+Gyr sales representative or contact Landis+Gyr

Czech Republic Sales Department [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


11/17


10

10 Remote Connect/Disconnect

Converge 3.8.5 introduces support for use case of remote connection or disconnection of the

meter.

Remote Connect/Disconnect is implemented as

Relay Controlfor following devices:

Landis+Gyr E650 DLMS


Disconnector(formerly called Breaker) for:

Landis+Gyr E350 DLMS/GPRS

11 Billing Values Audit

Audit and change history was available in Converge prior 3.8.5 for load profile values only.

Starting with Converge 3.8.5, audit and change history is available for billing values too in the

same fashion as for load profile values; that is any change is recorded with timestamp, user

name, old and new value and a text description of a reason of the change.

12 Excel Report output formats

Converge 3.8.5 fully supports new Excel spreadsheet formats according to OpenXML

standards.

Following Excel spreadsheet formats are supported:

Macro-Free (xlsx)

Macro-Enabled (xlsm)

Binary (xlsb)

It also newly adds output to PDF or XPS. No special license is needed to produce PDF reports.


12/17


11

13 Scheduled Events Manager

The Scheduled Events Manager is tool which helps an end user to create and maintain Active

Elements Scheduled Events in data processing of Converge. The Scheduled Events Manager

has an extensive search and filtration capabilities helping to select proper set of Active

Elements with respective Scheduled Events. On the result of the search can be applied set of

actions like execute, add, edit or delete scheduled events. All actions can be executed on

specific Active Element (Scheduled event) or in the batch mode for group of Scheduled Events.

Scheduled Events Manager is fully integrated to existing Converge UI, all result grid columns

support sorting and full text filtering or filtering with combo boxes with selection of available

values. For quick select/deselect of all records or whole page there is a set of links on the top

of the window.

Scheduled Events Manager is licensed feature.

14 Multi-Utility support

Converge 3.8.5 enhances already existing multi-utility support by providing ability to define

categories of virtual meters supporting ability to define different sets of fields and attributes

for each category.

This feature consolidates already existing demand from customers, which used to be

implemented using customer specific-attributes on custom templates.

By consolidating it Converge 3.8.5 is ready for further extensions to common requests of multi-

utility customers enabling standardized development of features with high degree ofreusability, making the implementation costs significantly reduced.

Besides traditional categories Electricity, Gas and Heat supported by wide range of

device drivers, few other relevant categories were added to complete the portfolio. New

categories must be made visible after the installation; otherwise they do not appear in the

system. Similarly, when by default visible categories are irrelevant, they shall be hidden.

Converge 3.8.5 supports following multi-utility categories:

Category Visible by default

Electricity Meter Yes

Gas Meter Yes

Heat Meter Yes

Cold Meter No

Water Meter No

Oil Meter No

Note: There is one device on Supported Meters List whose manufacturer primarily designates it

as Oil Meter.


13/17


12

15 Supported Devices

Following table is an excerpt of Supported Meters List. It contains drivers recently re-tested

and validated in Converge 3.8.5. Newly added devices are marked.

Manufacturer Device Type Protocol


Landis+Gyr E750 SyM2/SML

Landis+Gyr E650 DLMS, VDEW

Landis+Gyr E550 DLMS, VDEW


Landis+Gyr S650 DLMS

Landis+Gyr T550 M-Bus

Landis+Gyr FAF SCTM

Landis+Gyr FAG SCTM

Landis+Gyr FBC SCTM

Landis+Gyr FCL SCTM

Landis+Gyr FFC DL719

Landis+Gyr EKM640 SCTM

Landis+Gyr Metcom SCTM

Landis+Gyr EM1210 Kingfisher



Landis+Gyr EM5400 Kingfisher 1.5Itron SL7000 DLMS

Itron ACE6000 DLMS

Itron DC4 DLMS, VDEW

Actaris Corus CORUS

Schlumberger DC3 VDEW

Schlumberger SEVC-D SEVC-D

Elster A1800 DLMS

Elster A1882 ANSI C12.21

Elster A1700 FLAG

Elster A2500 VDEW

Elster A1500 VDEW

Elster AS1440 VDEW

Elster A1350 VDEW

Elster EK280 LIS200

Elster EK260 LIS200

Elster DL230 LIS200

Elster DL240 LIS200

Elster DL220 LIS200

Elster DL210 LIS200


14/17


13

AEM CST DLMS, IEC1107

AEM CEET IEC1107

EMH LZQJ VDEW, DLMS

EMH LZQJ-XC DLMS

EDMI Mk10 Atlas EDMI

EDMI Mk6 Genius EDMI

EDMI Mk3 Papillion EDMI

Power Measurement Ltd. ION 8600 ION

Power Measurement Ltd. ION 8400 ION

Cewe Instrument CewePrometer IEC1107

EnergyICT WebRTU DukePower

ZPA Inmat M-Bus

Kamstrup Multical M-Bus

Kamstrup MGY8 SCTM

Siemens PAC4200 ModBUS

Texelektronik KHM ModBUS

Turbo Team KHM-DS-1000 ModBUS

Pietro Fiorentini Di-Log ModBUS

Datawatt Datawatt MRTU SCTM

Luna LUN4

Makel T300

Viko VEM T5100

For complete listing of all devices and supported features, please refer to Supported Meters

Listdocument.


15/17


14

16 Legacy Features and Obsolete Components

Following table list legacy components or features, which are considered obsolete and its use

is deprecated. Once a component or feature is marked as legacy, it is still kept in the system

for certain period of time to keep backward compatibility and giving enough time to evaluate

transition or adjustment onto new recommended components or features.

Component or Feature Information

PDF reports

Separately licensed feature to enable Excel Report

output to PDF using 3rd

party software (licensed

separately).

In Converge 3.8.5, Excel Report output to PDF has

been introduced using native capability of Excel

2007/2010/2013.

Use this new feature instead

No additional license required

No additional 3rdparty software needs to be

installed, maintained and properly licensed

Live Connect

Use Quickjobinstead, which is fully featured,

preferred way of on-demand interaction with remote

devices.

As of Converge 3.8, Quickjob fully covers all formerLive Connect use-cases.

Live Connect is not maintained or developed

anymore; newly added device drivers are not and will

not be compatible with Live Connect.

Live Connect is retained in the system as is to

provide users enough time to start using Quickjob to

complete all tasks they were used to complete by Live

Connect in former versions.

By default, Live Connect is not accessible in Converge

3.8.5. For existing customers migrating to Converge

3.8.5 from older version, Live Connect can be made

available again on request. In this case, please note it

when requesting re-generation of license file.


16/17


15

COM+ interface

ADASDeviceAndMeterData

COM+ interfaceADASDeviceAndMeterData has been

marked as obsolete in Converge 3.3.

Please use recommended and supported COM+interfaces as replacement.

COM+ interfaceADASDeviceAndMeterData is still kept

in the system, yet correctness of data returned by its

method calls cannot be quarantined.

Please contact CSC for help replacing your specific

programmatic constructs.

17 Compatibility

Converge 3.8.5 provides compatibility at published COM+ interface level to the same extent as

former version with no difference to these interfaces.

Note that COM+ component ADASDeviceAndMeterData is obsolete since version 3.3 and

shall not be used anymore. It is not guaranteed that methods of this component return correct

and expected data.


17/17


16

converge 3.8.5 release notes

Documents