What is iDigi?

The iDigi Device Cloud is the embedded industry's first ready-to-use cloud computing platform for device networking and management. It provides secure application messaging, data storage and device management for networks comprised of wired, cellular and satellite-connected devices.

iDigi is based upon a cloud computing model that provides on-demand scalability so you can rest assured that when you need additional computing and storage iDigi will scale to meet your needs. The iDigi Device Cloud is designed using a high-availability architecture, with redundancy and failover characteristics in mind.

Using iDigi, customers can now easily develop cloud connected devices and applications that quickly scale from dozens to hundreds, thousands or even millions of endpoints.

The iDigi Device Cloud provides four core capabilities:

• Secure connectivity for wired, wireless and satellite gateways
• Centralized management of gateways and connected end-devices
• Web services APIs for secure application integration and data messaging
• Massive scalability

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What is a Device Network?

Sometimes referred to as Machine-to-Machine (M2M), device networks enable both wired and wireless systems to communicate with other devices and applications. A device (such as a sensor or meter) captures an event (such as temperature, tank level, etc.) which is relayed through a network aggregation layer (wired, wireless or both) and infrastructure to an application (software program) that translates the captured event into meaningful information (for example, tanks need to be emptied or refilled).

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What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing offers a flexible new approach to delivering IT services. In the most basic sense, “The Cloud” is resources (hardware, software, infrastructure and device networks) that can be accessed through the internet. The benefits of cloud computing are similar to a public utility model: only buy what you need, when you need it, with the ability to quickly scale resources on-demand as resource utilization grows.

Cloud computing is often packaged and delivered in three distinct tiers of service:

Software as a Service (SaaS):

SaaS delivers software as a service over the internet, eliminating the need to install and run applications on the customer's own computers and simplifying maintenance and support. SaaS applications are often delivered using a web browser interface.

The iDigi Manager Pro™ application is an example SaaS for managing remote devices connected to the iDigi Device Cloud. SaaS services, like all software, must run on a platform.

Platform as a Service (PaaS):

PaaS delivers a computing platform and/or solution stack (such as an operating system and database) as a service over the internet.

The iDigi Device Cloud messaging and web service functions are an example PaaS. iDigi customers often develop their own front-end applications that use the iDigi PaaS via web service calls to communicate with end devices.

PaaS, like all operating systems and databases, must run on hardware infrastructure.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):

IaaS delivers hardware infrastructure as a service. Rather than purchasing servers, data center space or network equipment, clients instead buy those items as a fully outsourced service. Suppliers typically bill such services on a utility computing basis and amount of resources consumed (and therefore the cost) will typically reflect the level of activity.

The SaaS and PaaS that comprise the iDigi Device Cloud operate on a contracted IaaS.

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Why use a third party cloud service like iDigi?

The iDigi Device Cloud provides the most scalable, reliable, secure and cost-effective device application platform available. Digi International has invested well over 70 man-years of development into the platform to date, and that investment continues to accelerate as customer adoption and requests for new features continue to grow.

Each user of the iDigi Device Cloud benefits from Digi's engineering investment:

• A sophisticated, feature-rich device cloud platform – right out-of-the-box
• A proven and massively scalable infrastructure
• On-demand, cloud-based resources. Pay for what you use: Start Small; Think Big; Grow Fast!
• Mature, stable frameworks for development of device clients and servers

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What can I do with the iDigi platform?

The iDigi platform is the Platform as a Service (PaaS) component of the iDigi Device Cloud. It includes all aspects of the system except the iDigi Manager Pro application for device management.

The iDigi platform offers the following features and functions:

Device Connectivity

• Device data messages are passed through the iDigi Device Cloud to reach applications
• Connect machines to the iDigi Device Cloud via wired, cellular or satellite communications
• Device-initiated sessions interoperate with NAT firewalls consistently and reliably without requiring user intervention
• Persistent network sessions allow any device to be reached at any time – day or night
• Low-bandwidth options such as Short Messaging Service (SMS) enable affordable, low-bandwidth messaging

Application Connectivity

• Application data messages are passed through the iDigi Device Cloud to reach devices
• Open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are available at no-cost
• Web services follow the well-known Representational State Transfer (RESTful) model
• Data may be sorted into tables in the cloud, enabling quick search and data retrieval
• Embedded web service queries allow conditions and summations to be performed on data on the server side, drastically reducing the number of web service operations per task

Integration

• Purpose-built APIs are available, such as the Digi Smart Energy API, to enable easy integration of devices with back office and end user applications
• The iDigi Device Integration Application (iDigi Dia) framework simplifies connecting devices to communication gateways. iDigi Dia includes a comprehensive library of plug-ins that work out-of-the-box with common device types and can also be extended to include new devices
• The iDigi Device Cloud provides short-term (24-hour) storage of application data to be passed either from device-to-application or from application-to-device. Longer duration short-term storage options may be available for solutions that require them.
• Remote commands may be passed within web service calls, enabling commands to be passed to a custom script running on the gateway.

Scalability

• Elasticity: The iDigi architecture was designed to provide elastic use of resources so expansion of connected devices is accommodated on-demand
• Throughput: Device applications are read-intensive so the number of transactions per second is a leading performance indicator. iDigi has been verified to burst to over 2,000 transactions per second; a level that exceeds Twitter and Facebook combined.
  (Source: http://searchengineland.com/by-the-numbers-twitter-vs-facebook-vs-google-buzz-36709 vs. Digi internal data)

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What can I do with the iDigi Manager Pro web application?

The iDigi Manager Pro is the Software as a Service (SaaS) component of the iDigi Device Cloud. It is a web-based graphical user-interface for management and control of remote devices.

Gateway Device Management

• Add and remove devices from the network
• Import and export configuration files from the devices
• Update firmware in the devices
• View and change the configuration settings of a device
• Reboot a device

XBee® Sensor Device Management

• Refresh the list of attached sensors on the XBee network
• View and change the configuration settings of an XBee device attached to the gateway
• Update firmware in the XBee attached devices
• Reboot a device

Cloud Storage Management

• View files uploaded into temporary storage by remote devices
• Upload files to temporary storage for retrieval by remote devices
• Add/Delete files and folders in temporary storage

User Management

• Configure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) rights for users

Subscription Management

• Enroll in or end participation in various features of the iDigi Device Cloud

Web Services Console

• Using graphical, pull-down menus, construct example XML web service calls. Point the service calls at a target device, send the instruction and monitor the results. This is an extremely powerful tool for application developers that saves development time and reduces software errors.

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What application partners use iDigi today?

Multiple solutions are presently under development. The Smart Energy market was an early adopter of iDigi because of its potential for massive scalability. Additional solutions are now emerging in other verticals, such as fleet management, tank management, asset tracking, mining and manufacturing, precision agriculture and renewable energy – just to name a few.

Please refer to the Partner section of www.idigi.com for more information.

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What example mobile applications use iDigi today?

The iDigi Device Cloud is ideally suited for mobile application solutions. A handful of mobile applications have shipped to date, with more in the planning stages.

The Digi Energy Daytrader™ (available free on both the iPhone and Android platforms) is an excellent example of what is possible. With this application, a user can monitor home energy consumption of gas, water and electric meters, set programmable thermostats and receive important messages from their utility providers. You can download a trial version that includes a demo mode to simulate smart energy sensors and control devices.

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How scalable is iDigi?

Massively scalable. A recent demonstration included 1 million connected devices with bursts up to 2,000 transactions per second – more transactions per second than Twitter and Facebook process today, combined. Expanded testing is in the planning stages to demonstrate even greater capacity and performance.
(Source: http://searchengineland.com/by-the-numbers-twitter-vs-facebook-vs-google-buzz-36709 vs. Digi internal data)

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Why not build it myself?

Some could – with significant investments of development time, people, money and other resources required to catch up with the features and functionality that are available from iDigi today. Keep in mind that during this time the iDigi Device Cloud will continue to advance. The primary benefit of the iDigi Device Cloud is cost; Digi continually invests significant R&D resources to deliver world-class scalability, reliability and security at the lowest cost possible.

Only a prebuilt, cloud-based solution can offer full-feature, production-class capabilities to an initial pilot and proof-of-concept. The iDigi Developer Cloud allows application developers to test with full capabilities during evaluation, while only funding the small incremental cost to add their device or application to an existing production-ready system.

(Please also see the question titled “Why use a 3rd-party cloud service like iDigi?”)

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We've already run a limited proof-of-concept with a spare server; why use iDigi for production deployment?

Reliability, scalability and performance. Moving to a production deployment often presents new challenges that were not an issue during an initial pilot. For example:

- How many users are practical to support on a single failure domain (server)?

- Will the original architecture accommodate server clustering as demand grows?

- How many transactions per second will a scaled-up solution require?

- How quickly will the solution need to scale?

- Which load balancing methods work best for device networks?

When your proof-of-concept transitions to the iDigi Device Cloud, the operating costs will be comparable or less for most pilot scenarios, with all of the versatility and technical benefits offered by iDigi. And best of all, reliability, scalability and performance are baked into the iDigi solution.

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Is iDigi secure?

Yes. The iDigi Device Cloud has been built to secure all transactions and data. Connections between remote devices and the iDigi service are encrypted and validated with certificates, as are connections between client applications and the iDigi service.

iDigi's security and privacy office has created the iDigi security policy using 164 controls that are based upon the CSA, ISO27002, NERC CIP, PCI and HIPPA standards. The controls are enforced with active monitoring tools and verified with independent, third-party policy compliance audits.

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What does iDigi cost and how is it billed?

iDigi is billed on a transactional basis. There is no fee for connecting devices to iDigi, but each transaction between a device and the iDigi Device Cloud service has a small fee.

The transactional fees are available at different usage levels, but are on the order of micro-cents per transaction (~ $ 0.0000x per transaction).

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Why is iDigi sold as a subscription-based cloud service?

For a number of reasons: to keep support prices as low as possible; to enable rapid scalability; to enable a pay-as-you-grow usage model; to leverage economies of scale; to maintain a low cost of entry for new solutions.

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Is the iDigi platform available as a stand-alone application?

No. This was contemplated in the early days of iDigi. The question has been asked far less frequently as customers gain practical knowledge using the cloud model and gain experience with the technical, business and security benefits that the cloud model delivers.

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When cellular and satellite data links are used, how are costs of these services contained?

Originally, devices were expected to keep a persistent network connection open to iDigi. An occasional heartbeat/keep-alive was sent in the absence of application data to confirm the link.

iDigi now includes Short Messaging System (SMS) for deployment scenarios where bandwidth costs are premium. Some actions, like reboot, may actually be initiated over SMS. For more complicated transactions, iDigi can send an SMS request connect “shoulder tap” which will cause the device to initiate a traditional connection back to the server. Once connected, web services requests and UI actions can be made to the device.

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Can Digi help me build a specific iDigi solution?

Yes. Design help is available from many sources. The free iDigi Dia framework includes reusable software modules and open source code. The free integrated development environment (based on Eclipse) includes meaningful examples and tutorials. Digi also hosts a developer Wiki and a discussion forum for the development community to share cooperative solutions.

Professional design services are also available from Spectrum Design Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Digi International. Spectrum's focus is wireless design. As an innovative wireless design company, Spectrum also carries deep expertise in embedded design services, software services and printed circuit board design.

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Where can I get more detailed technical information?

Use the "drop-down" filter selector at the top of this page to view more detailed technical questions.

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Which Digi devices are compatible with the iDigi Device Cloud?

All of the ConnectPortX devices (X2, X3, X4, X5, X8) as well as the Smart Energy Devices (ConnectPort X2 Smart Energy, ERT/Ethernet Gateway, ERT Bridge) are compatible with the iDigi Device Cloud.

Nearly all of the Digi Embedded devices (Digi Connect, ConnectCore, Rabbit) include software libraries for compatibility with the iDigi Device Cloud.

Digi TransPort routers (WR41, WR44, DR64) have undergone engineering integration with iDigi, and beta support for iDigi is available in current firmware versions.

A detailed iDigi Interoperability matrix with supported features per product is in development. Please check back at this site soon for more information.

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What kits are available to gain hands-on experience using the iDigi Device Cloud?

The iDigi Gateway Development Kit is a great resource. It is designed to make it easy to setup a ZigBee network, upload a custom iDigi Dia application, and provide seamless connectivity to the iDigi Device Cloud for web services integration to standard business applications over the internet.

More information is available at www.digi.com/gatewaydevelopmentkit.

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Are 3rd-party devices compatible with the iDigi Device Cloud?

Yes. A device development kit is in the works to allow 3rd party devices to interoperate with the iDigi Device Cloud.

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What Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are available for Digi devices?

Digi ESP is an integrated IDE based on Eclipse that includes Python scripts, sample code and tools which have been designed to facilitate the development of applications for Digi devices. Digi ESP provides an ideal development environment for beginners and experts.

Digi ESP is available for both Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OSX platforms at www.digi.com/esp.

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What is the iDigi DIA?

iDigi Dia (Device Integration Application) is software that simplifies connecting devices (sensors, PLCs, etc.) to communication gateways. It includes a comprehensive library of plug-ins that work out-of-the-box with common device types and can also be extended to include new devices.

iDigi Dia provides the core functions of remote device data acquisition, control and presentation between devices and information platforms. It collects data from any device that can communicate with a Digi gateway, and is supported over any gateway physical interface. iDigi Dia presents this data to upstream applications in fully customizable formats, significantly reducing a customer's time-to-market.

Detailed information is available in the iDigi Dia Online Documentation, available on the Resources tab of the iDigi Manager Pro web application.

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How do I connect my supported device to iDigi?

Devices must be registered under a valid user account with an iDigi Device Cloud to receive service. Beginners may request a free developer user account at http://developer.idigi.com.

Some configuration is required on both the device and on iDigi. The device must be configured with the fully-qualified domain name of the iDigi Device Cloud (beginners use developer.idigi.com). Please consult the Configuration Guide for your specific device to configure “Remote Management.” The iDigi Device Cloud must be configured with the “Device ID” of the new device that is to be registered. Beginners will usually accomplish this with the “Add Device” wizard in the iDigi Manager Pro web application. Advanced users could use a web service call to register new devices.

Beginners would be well-served to follow the Getting Started Guide for the iDigi Gateway Development Kit available at www.digi.com/gatewaydevelopmentkit.

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What connectivity is possible?

Digi offers a number of devices that are compatible with the iDigi Device Cloud. Many devices support Ethernet or Wi-Fi network connectivity, while other devices include cellular and satellite support. Digi sales engineers can work with you to help identify the best network connectivity for your application and the most cost-effective application protocols to communicate between devices, the iDigi Device Cloud and ultimately your end-users' client applications.

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Can devices that are restricted to a private network connect to iDigi (without leaving the private network; without traversing the public Internet directly)?

Yes, soon. Virtual Private Networking (VPN) technologies are planned for the iDigi Device Cloud. With VPN, it will be possible for data to travel between devices, iDigi and client applications using end-to-end private IP addressing.

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Can devices connect from behind a firewall?

Yes. iDigi-enabled devices initiate a client-side IP connection to the iDigi Device Cloud. This mechanism is the most compatible with common firewall configurations, including the Network Address Translation (NAT) services delivered on most home internet routers.

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How can I control the amount of cellular data used by remote gateways?

Working with a Digi engineer, we can recommend multiple approaches to control the size and frequency of cellular data traffic. The requirements of the overall solution will be key: how much information is needed from the device and how frequently?

iDigi includes support for the Short Messaging System (SMS) protocol. This technology allows cellular devices to drop their client-initiated connection when it is not required to reduce data usage. iDigi has the capability to send a short “shoulder tap” SMS message to the cellular device to request that it reinitiate the management connection if necessary.

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Does iDigi maintain a persistent management connection to the end devices?

By default, yes, however this is configurable. iDigi executes a variety of operating functions in the background to provide the customer with the status of devices in the network, including pushing a ping to the device to determine if it is still connected. The default for this ping is every 15 minutes, but can be adjusted by the customer if necessary. For example: battery powered devices. Even though the ping requires very little resources it can accelerate the consumption of the fixed power resource from the battery. In this event the customer may choose to decrease the frequency of the ping dramatically. This type of "are you still there" transaction is not counted towards the customer's chargeable transaction count from iDigi (although cellular carrier data usage may still apply.) It is considered platform administration.

iDigi version 2.2 introduced Short Messaging System (SMS) functionality to allow a cellular device to drop the persistent management connection indefinitely. iDigi can send an SMS “shoulder tap” notification at any time that requests the device to re-initiate the client-side connection to iDigi when it is needed.

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What cellular networks do the Digi devices operate on?

Multiple, including GSM GPRS/ GSM HSUPA/UMTS /EDGE/HSPA/CDMA EV-DO.

Please consult the latest product documentation for your specific device, or reach out to a Digi sales engineer for a device recommendation based on your applications requirements.

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Where can I get the latest firmware for my devices?

On the www.digi.com website. Please click on “Firmware Updates” under the “Support” banner.

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Can we use iDigi for reporting device signal strength?

Yes. Assuming signal strength or other data points are available from the device, web-services can be used to create a web application or widget that displays signal strength or other attributes.

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Is a Digi device required to have a public or static IP address to make use of iDigi?

No; neither a public IP address nor a static IP address is required to make use of iDigi. Devices initiate a client-side IP connection to the iDigi Device Cloud, which is compatible with private and dynamically-assigned device IP addresses.

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How can I use iDigi if my machines/devices have no connection to the internet?

Multiple options are available to connect machines/devices to iDigi that originally lack a network connection. Analog and Digital outputs from the machine or device may be collected by a Digi gateway. That gateway, in turn, can make the connection to iDigi via wired, Wi-Fi, cellular or even satellite connections.

When multiple machines or devices co-exist in a physical location, it is possible to place an inexpensive XBee wireless module on each of the machine to collect the analog or digital data. Then a single Digi gateway collects the sensor readings from each of the wireless XBee modules on all of the machines and reports the data up to iDigi using a single network connection.

More information on this topic is available from the Digi sales engineers.

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How do I setup/configure device authentication on iDigi Manager Pro?

The hierarchy of remote device configuration settings is dynamically learned from each remote device by iDigi Manager Pro; it is not hard-coded into the iDigi Manager Pro application. Double-click on any device in the “Devices” tab of iDigi Manager Pro to populate the web GUI with the configuration hierarchy of your device. In the ConnectPortX4, for example, the configuration setting is available under “Advanced Configuration” and “iDigi Device Security”.

The exact location of the configuration setting for iDigi device authentication may vary slightly between device families and firmware versions. Please consult the documentation for your specific remote device.

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Where can I get more detailed technical information about iDigi-supported devices?

Please consider the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro web application (available with a free developer account at http://developer.idigi.com.) In addition to documentation, the Resources section includes links to the iDigi Platform Wiki, the iDigi Dia Wiki, the Python Wiki and the Customer Support Forum.

Digi sales representatives and sales engineers are also available to help answer questions. Please refer to the “Contact Us” section on the footer of the iDigi.com website.

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How long is sensor/application data stored in the iDigi platform?

Data is retained for seven trailing days.

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What commands can I send to a remote device over the iDigi infrastructure?

The possibilities are wide open. Standard web service calls are available to manage traditional device settings. An optional Server Command Interface / Remote Command Interface (SCI/RCI) mechanism is in place to any custom device or application commands a developer requires.

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What is SCI/RCI?

Server Command Interface / Remote Command Interface (SCI/RCI) is a feature of the iDigi platform that allows users to access information and to perform custom commands that relate to their device. Examples of these requests include retrieving and setting configuration parameters, updating firmware, retrieving and updating files, working with XBee devices, and others.

More information on SCI is available at www.digi.com/wiki/developer/index.php/SCI.

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What is the iDigi Dia web services API and how is it used?

Digi allows customers to build custom remote sampling solutions that report data through iDigi Dia. The data will be stored in the database on the iDigi Device Cloud using Dia tables (instead of the original method of being stored as files). This will allow iDigi client applications to query Dia tables directly with web service calls rather than downloading and parsing XML files. You can enable this feature using the Dia data service subscription.

More information on the Dia API is available on the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro.

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What is the iDigi Smart Energy API and how is it used?

Remote devices that conform to the ZigBee Smart Energy profile will report data to iDigi. The data is stored in the database on the iDigi Device Cloud using Smart Energy tables. This allows iDigi client applications to query tables directly with web service calls.

Please refer to the documents listed under “Smart Energy Resources” on the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro.

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Where is the iDigi platform hosted?

Just as customers contract with iDigi for best-of-breed device cloud services, Digi International has contracted with best-of-breed Infrastructure as a Service providers to host the platform. Today these services are hosted from within the United States (iDigi service is available globally today). Additionally, international host sites are planned in the near future.

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Where can I get more detailed technical information about the iDigi Device Cloud?

Please consider the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro web application (available with a free developer account at http://developer.idigi.com). In addition to documentation, the Resources section includes links to the iDigi Platform Wiki, the iDigi Dia Wiki, the Python Wiki and the Customer Support Forum.

Digi sales representatives and sales engineers are also available to help answer questions. Please refer to the “Contact Us” section on the footer of the iDigi.com website.

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How is sensor/application data retrieved from the iDigi platform?

A client application may poll a remote device directly through the iDigi Device Cloud. Alternatively, the remote devices may be configured to push data up to the iDigi Device Cloud at a controlled rate (i.e., transmit once per minute) or under certain conditions (i.e., transmit immediately when value >50).

Advanced querying of data is possible when devices push data up to short-term storage on the iDigi Device Cloud. Client applications can then build more sophisticated queries such as “list all sensors that have a temperature over 100 degrees” or “list all devices that have not uploaded data in the last 24 hours”.

For both designs, the client application will use web services to retrieve the data using iDigi.

More information on the iDigi web service calls is available in the “iDigi Web Services Programming Guide” available on the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro web application.

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What are RESTful web services and how do they work?

A web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over a network. Representational state transfer (REST) attempts to describe web service architectures that use HTTP or similar web protocols by constraining the message interface to a set of well-known, standard operations (like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE for HTTP).

The iDigi Web Services API exposes a number of functions via web services that allow devices and client applications to send data, retrieve data, change settings, update firmware, etc.

More information on the iDigi web service calls is available in the “iDigi Web Services Programming Guide” available on the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro web application.

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Where can I see example web service calls to iDigi?

The iDigi Manager Pro web application includes a Web Services Console that allows developers to select example web service calls from easy-to-navigate drop down menus. The equivalent, detailed HTTP methods are displayed for review. Users may click to transmit any web service call to live, target devices, and the response from the remote device is displayed for review.

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Where can I see example applications built to demonstrate data retrieval from iDigi?

The iDigi Gateway Development Kit includes an example application that is used to communicate with iDigi, display sensor values on a web page, and pass commands down to a device. The web application source code for the Google App Engine is also included on the documentation tab for the kit on www.digi.com.

Please see the documentation at www.digi.com/gatewaydevelopmentkit.

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Can Digi recommend an application/dashboard developer?

Yes. Digi has worked with a number of client application developers. Some are focused on specific industry verticals, while others build custom applications across many industries.

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We want to use iDigi for our application but no existing solution partner has what we need. What can Digi do to help?

Solution partners often get a start building specialized solutions that are focused for specific industry verticals (e.g., manufacturing or health care). However many are willing to branch-out to build solutions for other adjacent industries as needs evolve.

Please give Digi a call (see the “Contact Us” section of this website). Digi may have knowledge of a solution partner that has done relevant work in a similar vertical.

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Where can I get more detailed technical information about integrating end client applications to the iDigi Device Cloud?

Please consider the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro web application (available with a free developer account at http://developer.idigi.com). In addition to documentation, the Resources section includes links to the iDigi Platform Wiki, the iDigi Dia Wiki, the Python Wiki and the Customer Support Forum.

Digi sales representatives and sales engineers are also available to help answer questions. Please refer to the “Contact Us” section on the footer of the iDigi.com website.

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What is the difference between device management and device monitoring capabilities?

Device management includes those functions required to operate and maintain a device. This includes turning it on and off, deactivating it, changing configurations, downloading software, etc.

Device management features are included with iDigi Manager Pro version 2.2 today.

Monitoring is a function of polling or querying a device on a pre-defined frequency for health status. The health status is usually displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) that represents the network in a relevant way to the user. Alerting is made available with monitoring capabilities.

Device monitoring and alerting is planned for an upcoming major release of iDigi Manager Pro.

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How will the device settings of my 3rd party device appear in iDigi? Won't iDigi have to be coded with knowledge of my device?

The hierarchy of remote device configuration settings is dynamically learned from each remote device by iDigi Manager Pro; it is not hard-coded into the iDigi Manager Pro application. The configuration elements of your device are passed up to iDigi using a UI Descriptor model.

Please see www.digi.com/wiki/developer/index.php/UI_Descriptor.

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How can I generate SMTP or SNMP alerts or alarms out of iDigi?

Device monitoring and alerting is planned for an upcoming major release of iDigi Manager Pro.

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Can iDigi host my own web services application?

No, not within the iDigi Device Cloud itself. The decision was intentionally made to focus iDigi engineering, time and resources on building the most reliable, scalable and affordable Device Cloud possible, and investments have remained diligently focused on achieving and maintaining that goal.

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Where can I get more detailed technical information about iDigi Manager Pro?

Please consider the “Resources” section of the iDigi Manager Pro web application (available with a free developer account at http://developer.idigi.com). In addition to documentation, the Resources section includes links to the iDigi Platform Wiki, the iDigi Dia Wiki, the Python Wiki and the Customer Support Forum.

Digi sales representatives and sales engineers are also available to help answer questions. Please refer to the “Contact Us” section on the footer of the iDigi.com website.

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What does iDigi cost and how is it billed?

The two tiers of service, iDigi Manager Pro (SaaS) and the iDigi Device Cloud (PaaS), are billed separately.

iDigi Manager Pro Software as a Service

Billed on a monthly basis, per registered device in iDigi Manager Pro. An example deployment with 101 devices is 59 cents per registered device per month (Spring 2011 pricing.) Volume discount pricing is available. Please contact a Digi sales representative for a price quote.

iDigi Device Cloud Platform as a Service

Billed on a transactional model. A typical transaction of less than 100 MB is 15 micro-cents ($0.00015) each (Spring 2011 pricing.) Please contact a Digi sales representative for a price quote.

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What constitutes a transaction for billing in the iDigi Device Cloud, and how can I calculate my expected transactions?

A device or client application performing a web service call into the iDigi Device Cloud will consume one transaction for the ACTION/RESPONSE pair. Consider the following examples:

A remote device performing one web service call to POST data up to the data cache of the iDigi Device Cloud will consume one transaction:

• One transaction for the POST/RESPONSE pair between remote device and iDigi

A client application performing one synchronous web service call to get cached data from the data cache of the iDigi Device Cloud will consume one transaction:

• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between client application and iDigi

A client application performing one synchronous web service call to get non-cached data directly from one end device via iDigi will consume two transactions:

• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between the client application and iDigi
• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between iDigi and the end device

A client application performing asynchronous web service calls to get non-cached data directly from one end device via iDigi will consume three transactions:

• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between the client application and iDigi to initiate the asynchronous request
• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between iDigi and the end device
• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between the client application and iDigi to get the answer to the asynchronous request

A client application performing asynchronous web service calls to get non-cached data directly from three end devices via iDigi will consume five transactions:

• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between the client application and iDigi to initiate the asynchronous request
• Three transactions, one transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between iDigi and each of the three end devices
• One transaction for the GET/RESPONSE pair between the client application and iDigi to get the answer to the asynchronous request of all three devices

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What is an overhead transaction versus a query transaction?

Overhead transactions are infrastructure messages passed between the iDigi Device Cloud and end devices, such as persistent keep-alive messages. Overhead transactions are not billed to end customers by iDigi.

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How is a transaction billed that is fragmented across multiple IP packets?

Transactions that are fragmented during transport into multiple IP packets are billed as a single transaction. For example, a web service call to move a file onto a remote device will be billed as a single transaction, even if the web service call is fragmented into ten 1500-byte IP packets as a result of the file size.

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Where can I get more detailed information about iDigi Device Cloud transactions and billing?

Digi sales representatives and sales engineers are also available to help answer questions. Please refer to the “Contact Us” section on the footer of the iDigi.com website.

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