January 2013 Metercat 3.5.0.

1 - Release Notes

Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes

Metercat™ Style Number format:

100G000R21 (released version)

100G000D21 (demo version with expiration date, 6/30/2013)

Metercat 3.5.0.1 is a patch release to update existing 3.5.5.0 installations; please review the
Metercat 3.5.0.0 Release Notes (in the following pages) for a full list of new features and
changes in the 3.5 release.

Installation and Upgrading from Earlier Releases

The Metercat 3.5.0.1 patch installation requires Metercat 3.5.0.0 to be installed

To install Metercat 3.5.0.1 launch the .msp file in the distribution package.

New Features

None

Other additions or changes

None

Issues Resolved

When executing a Diagnostic or Billing Read task on an A1800 ALPHA meter with firmware
version 4.0 or higher, the task no longer generates an “Insufficient Security Clearance”
error message while reading the DCPM (Downloadable communication Protocol module)
tables.

Elster Solutions, LLC

Raleigh, North Carolina USA
support@us.elster.com
www.elster.com
Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes January 2013

Metercat 3.5.0.0 - Release Notes

Metercat™ Style Number format:

100G000R21 (released version)

100G000D21 (demo version with expiration date, 6/30/2013)

Installation and Upgrading from Earlier Releases

The Metercat Release 3.5.0 installation will automatically uninstall any earlier version of
Metercat.

Database files (containing programs, system settings, etc.) from Metercat Release 3.4.0
and earlier can be migrated to the Release 3.5.0 format by selecting ‘Use Existing
Database files’ during the installation.

Metercat 3.5.0 introduces support for a new IP AxisLink family of devices.
The new IP AxisLink family can be selected during the installation to install the related
support functionality in Metercat.

Once Metercat 3.5.0 is installed, support for the IP AxisLink family can be later added
or removed by re-running the installer (in the Windows Control Panel ‘Add/Remove
Programs’, selecting “Metercat” and “Change”) and selecting the “Modify” option.

New Features

Support for a new family of Elster IP AxisLink router devices that can act as EA
Gatekeepers while also providing routing capability to Distribution Automation equipment
connected to their ‘edge’ interfaces. Please refer to the TM42-4002A technical guide for
detailed information on the IP AxisLink router.

The following new functionality is available:

IP AXISLINK PROGRAM AND COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT

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January 2013 Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes

The Program Wizard (accessed with File > New > Program) has a new “IP
AxisLink” selection for creating Programs for IP AxisLink routers.

When using File > New > Component, a new “IP AxisLink” selection is available to
create Components for IP AxisLink routers.

The following components are new for the IP AxisLink family:

ACL (Access Control List) -- Configures the IP and MAC (Media Access
Control) addresses that are allowed to communicate with the IP AxisLink
router’s C12.22 WAN port.

Binary I/O -- Configures the 4 Binary Inputs and 2 Binary Outputs available in
the IP AxisLink router.

DNP -- Configures the “DNP Slave” running in the IP AxisLink router.

Event Logs Configuration -- Configures what IP AxisLink router events are
captured in its Event Log.

Event Notifications -- Selects which events generate notifications via the
ANSI C12.22 WAN port.

Network -- Configures the following IP AxisLink router parameters:

ANSI C12.22 WAN port parameters.

DTLS (Datagram Transport layer Security) parameters for
communications with the STS (Secure Tunnel Server).

Tunnel Control parameters that control the connection to the STS
(Secure Tunnel Server).

HTTP parameters for serving web-browsers via the local USB port or
remote ANSI C12.22 WAN port.

Serial-edge interface parameters for communicating to Distribution
Automation equipment connected to the IP AxisLink router’s serial
interface.

Clock source

The following components have been enhanced to support IP AxisLink routers
along with the A3 ALPHA and A1800 ALPHA meter families:

Rates

Special Dates

Note: These components are only relevant for IP AxisLink routers that are
capable of EA Gatekeeper functionality.

File > Open > Component has a new selection for the meter/device family which
allows displaying only components applicable for the selected family.

IP AXISLINK TASKS

The following new Tasks are available to support IP AxisLink routers:

IP AxisLink Diagnostic Read.

IP AxisLink Program.

NOTE: Metercat 3.5.0 does not include sample Functions for these tasks. If
needed, such Functions can be created using Tools > Function Management.

The following tasks, already existing for A3 and A1800 ALPHA support, have
been enhanced to also support IP AxisLink routers:

Replace Rates and Dates.

Change Password.

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Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes January 2013

Change Time.

Activate C12.22 WAN Factory Key.

Change Utility ID.

Change Out Gatekeeper (was “Change Out LAN Collector”).

Clear Data.

Clear Event Log.

IP AXISLINK VIEWS AND VIEWSETS

The following new Views are available to support the IP AxisLink family:

ACL (Access Control List).

Binary I/O.

DNP.

Event Logs Configuration.

Event Notifications.

Network.

Security Event Log Data view.

The following existing Views are also applicable the new IP AxisLink family:

Status.

Switch Time.

Rates.

Switch Time pending.

Rates pending.

Event Log Data.

The following new Viewsets are available to support the IP AxisLink family:

IP AxisLink Diagnostic -- Contains all the views applicable to IP AxisLink
routers.

IP AxisLink Program Configuration -- Contains the configuration views
applicable to IP AxisLink routers. Also used to order the Views when editing
an IP AxisLink program.

SYSTEM PREFERENCES

The IP AxisLink family is now selectable in Tools > System Preferences under
Meters Supported.

SYNCHRONIZATION WITH EA_MS

Any IP AxisLink routers installed in an EA_MS system can be added automatically
to Metercat’s Phone Book using Tools > EA_MS Synchronization just like for WIC-
equipped A3 and A1800 ALPHA meters.

The synchronization with EA_MS retrieves only the devices belonging to the
meter families configured in Tools > System Preferences.

CONNECTION TO IP AXISLINK

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January 2013 Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes

In the TCP/IP_C12.22 Connection (Tools > Machine Settings) a new “PPP

Connection Name” parameter is available to support communication to the IP
AxisLink router via the USB port on the device.

Metercat connecting to an IP AxisLink router through a USB cable requires a
PPP connection previously created on the Windows station where Metercat is
running. In this case, the “PPP Connection Name” parameter must be set to
the exact connection name created in Windows’ Network Connections.

METERCATLITE

MetercatLite functionality has been enhanced to support the programming of IP
AxisLink routers via the command line. Please see the MetercatLite 3.5.0 Release
Notes and User Guide for details.

Other additions or changes

In the Metercat 3.5.0 installer wizard, the feature groupings of “Typical ANSI” and “Typical
IEC” have been removed. The user now directly selects the meter families to be installed
(as was previously available with the ‘Custom” installation option). By default, the A3
ALPHA and REX meter families are selected.

The command line options for the installer have changed in Metercat 3.5.0. Please review
the AdminInstall.html on the Metercat CD for further details.

The Diagnostic and Billing Read tasks for the A3 ALPHA and A1800 ALPHA meter families
have been optimized for execution over a TCP/IP ANSI C12.22 connection (on WIC-
equipped meters). Multiple read table operations are now performed in a single ANSI
C12.22 communication, reducing (often dramatically) the tasks’ execution times.

The “Security mode” field has been removed in the TCP/IP_C12.22 Connections form
(Tools > Machine Settings). The Security Mode can only be selected in the TCP/IP_C12.22
Phone Book entries.

The new version 3.5.0 of the “TOU Extractor” application, available on the Metercat 3.5.0
install CD, is capable of converting IP AxisLink programs that contain a TOU configuration
(Rates and Special Dates components) to a file that can be imported into EA_MS 8.0.

Issues Resolved

The Phasor Diagram view of the “PQ Inspector” task now correctly displays the Service
Test the meter has locked.

Metercat no longer generates an error when reading or programming A1800 ALPHA
meters with an undefined PQM Test Set.

When executing the Change Password task, the Repeat button in the connection bar is no
longer enabled when the user has cancelled the task before filling-in the runtime forms.

Metercat no longer fails executing the Change Passwords and other tasks when one of the
meter password is left blank, i.e. 20 space (“ “) characters, in Meter Password
Management.

Metercat no longer fails with SQL error "Field '<tbl_name>.name' can't be a zero length
string." in certain cases when importing a Program Exchange Document (.ped) with an
optional component immediately after exporting a .ped without optional components.

When the Diagnostic Read task is executed on a WIC-equipped A3 or A1800 ALPHA
meter, Metercat now correctly saves the Metercat Stored Reading (.msr) file even in cases

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Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes January 2013

when an error is encountered when accessing the WIC module. In this case the .msr file
will contain the A3/A1800 table data, but not data from the WIC.

In the “Time” tab of the Status View, Metercat now displays the correct value for the
“Holiday” field.

After executing the Change Password task, Metercat now correctly disables the Repeat
button in the connection bar following any changes made through Tools > User
Management.

General Notes
®

Metercat 3.5.0 is a Windows -based software application for programming and reading
solid-state electricity meters.
® ® ®

Metercat 3.5.0 has been tested on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7
®
platforms (32-bit and 64-bit versions). Metercat 3.5.0 functionality on earlier Windows
versions is not guaranteed.

Metercat 3.5.0 requires that you have Internet Explorer 4.0 or later installed.

For machines without an existing copy of Metercat, the default installation path is
C:\Program Files\Elster\Metercat\. For Metercat upgrades, the installation path will default
to wherever the prior version was installed.
Note: If you do not use the default path when upgrading an existing Metercat
installation you will not have access to the configuration files, readings, and
reports of the earlier version unless you manually move them to the new path
after completing the installation.

Metercat Release 3.5.0 currently supports commercially available revisions of A3 ALPHA
meters (including Gatekeepers and Nodes), REX/REX2/gREX meters, A1800 ALPHA
meters and IP AxisLink routers. As new revisions of meter firmware are introduced, you
may need to upgrade your Metercat software. Refer to the documentation provided with
each new meter firmware revision to determine Metercat release compatibility.

Instructions for installing the Metercat software, system requirements, and customer
support information are available in the Getting Started Guide on the Metercat installation
CD-ROM.

When installing the software, enter the serial number exactly as it appears on the back of
the CD jewel case. This number may be requested when you call Elster Solutions
Customer Support.

Adobe Reader is required to view and print the Metercat and AlphaPlus documentation in
portable document format (PDF) format. Adobe Reader 9.4.0 is supplied on the Metercat
installation CD. Note: PDF files of the user guides are installed as part of the Metercat
installation.

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 Metercat 3.5.0.1 - Release Notes January 2013

Known Issues

Attempting to edit or view more than six programs simultaneously causes serious
demands on operating system and database resources and may result in error messages
such as “General SQL Error: Can not open any more tables.”

Additional tasks cannot be executed in a single Function subsequent to a Change
Passwords Task.

In User Management, when authorizing programs for user groups, even programs for
families and types disabled through System Preferences are visible.

When communicating over C12.21, the programming of a meter equipped with an ICP
module version 2.x may fail if the Metercat program contains a Special Option Board
component.

The recommended workaround is to execute the full meter programming in two
steps: First, remove the Special Option Board component from the program and
execute the program task. Then program the ICP module by executing the
‘Configure Special Option Board’ task with the desired component.

When the Interval Data of REX2 meters with firmware version 4.0 is configured to record
“events only” (order form configuration) the power outage/restoration and time change
events are not displayed in the Event Log Data view. The events are correctly displayed in
the Event Log Data view in the case of REX2 meters with firmware 3.x.

When Google Chrome and Metercat are installed on the same computer an “R6030: CRT
not initialized at launch” error may occur when starting Metercat. The workaround is to
close Google Chrome or uninstall it if closing is not sufficient. The same error may be
observed when certain search plug-ins (Dealio, Widgi, etc.) are installed in Internet
Explorer and Firefox or when launching Metercat during a Cisco Webex session when the
desktop is shared. The workaround in these cases is to uninstall the search plug-ins and
close the Cisco Webex session. In certain cases launching Metercat before opening the
Cisco Webex session may be sufficient.

Technical Support
Contact Elster’s Technical Support at +1 800 338 5251 (US Technical Support).

Elster Solutions, LLC © 2013 by Elster

Raleigh, North Carolina USA All rights reserved.
support@us.elster.com Printed in the United States
www.elster.com