The servers and connectivity

Flexible Distributed Architecture: use through cloud computing or your own server/s on site.
Linux preferred. May run on a Windows platform through a Virtual machine.
Recommended Platform: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz or better, Memory 16GB-32GB, SSD 2TB-8TB disk space (8TB if you want to go to the recommended maximum of 20000 meters per server) and 100mbit or better ethernet port.
Daily local backups and Daily-Weekly remote backups by default.
Automatic Software Updates (can be requested via support. We would generally not update unless there is a reason to)
We can run on a cloud platform, if it supports Linux, but we prefer not to run on a cloud platform but rather on a dedicated server, because the disks are generally not as fast on a virtual cloud platform as on a local SSD. If we run on a dedicated server with a local SSD disk, the disk access is generally the fastest. We prefer to go in a SuperMicro micro-blade chassis with SSD disks (if interested to buy one with pre-installed pnpscada instances, please contact support@pnpscada.com ).
We like to put everything on 1 drive, because then we can simply clone it (currently using clonezilla), and create other pnpscada servers.
We don't normally do real time load balancing, because we want to do local access to the DB on an SSD (it is faster), so we prefer to redirect your browser to the machine on which the meter's data is kept.
We don't have a hard limit on how many meters you can run on one server, but our rule of thumb is 20000 meters per server.
When we run on multiple servers, we prefer also to always do Master-Standby, because as your number of servers increase, your number of hardware failures would also increase. With Master-Standby (streaming PostgreSQL replication), we can have minimal downtime and data loss when a server fails. Local and Remote backups also works better if we do it from the Standby, because then we can pause replication while taking the backup snapshot, so that the backup is entirely consistent with itself. Also, the performance of the Master is not affected when taking a backup from the Standby. (normally when we doing a daily backup on a pnpscada instance, it affects performance aversely, and because normal operations continue, while precaustions are taken, the backup may not be entirely self-consistent).
We have the concept of an Empty pnpscada instance. So the idea is to start up an empty one as a standby (no processes except the db typically runs on the standby), and start the replication from master. Then this server becomes a Standby pnpscada server. And when the master goes away, the Standby can be promoted to a Master (including assuming the Master's main operational IP). The old dysfunctional master micro-blade computer can be plugged out while the rest of the chassis is still running, and refurbished, and then plugged back, and then it becomes a blank again (Empty pnpscada instance).
We have the concept of 'Atomic' architecture. In our case, it means, run everything on 1 server (DB, web server, meter reading processes etc), on 1 disk 1 partition, Master/Standby the whole thing, not parts of it. Keeps management of instances simple.

Devices and functions supported

Multi-Vendor Meter support. (Elster, Enermax, Landis&Gyr, EDMI, PRI, Wavenis, Actaris SL7000, etc)
Additional Meter support available at a fee if the Protocol is available.
Full Fixed Network support, with backwards compatibility to manual entry and some meter reader handhelds
Configurable period for meter readings. Default is once per day.
Virtual metering supported for alternative sources of power, e.g. Generators.
Load Scheduling and Demand Control, on small or municipal scale. Automatic or Incident based.
Simple real time SCADA elements and logic supported
Capture and view GIS information per device.
Facilitate the creation, configuration and switching of Contactors and Breakers on the system.
Facilitate real time meter reading via SNMP or OPC Client interface.
Facilitate real time maximum demand prediction

Data gathered from devices/ this enable you to?

Simultaneous Maximum Demand and RMS Maximum Demand supported on the same meter.
Correct per half hour Maximum Demand Summation across multiple meters.
Real time, On-line Provisional Bills Quota view.
Baseline Historical Analysis. (Eskom PCP)
Statistics view.
Tariff comparisons.
Download Meter Readings in CSV format
Meter Details & Events
Monthly Bills
Phasor Graphs when supported by that meter type
Management and auditing of meter totals, including reading totals from the meter, capturing manual readings, doing interpolations and adjusting totals.
Historical Trending and Graphing of Miscellaneous Analog values, for instance Instrumentation values.
Web service interface for M2M Bulk Configuration, manipulation and reading of data.

Interface with you

Simple Web interface, supports both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. (No ActiveX or Applets)
Full functionality available through flexible Web interface, including real time functions.
Web interface suitable to roll out to clients without training.
Profile Graph with easy zoom and pan functionality. Time of Use color coded.

User interface Customizable per Organization
Provides each Organization its own sub domain and login name-space

Fully configurable user login database, with role based security.
Glass wall for user logins and for selected GPRS modems and ether-pads.

How we help you to fault find

Notifications for Events, Queries and Fault management. Forwarding to email and SMS supported.
Communication Logs and Meter Problem Reports
Real Time Communication Monitor, showing real time conversations with devices in the field down to a binary level, in the web browser. Facilitates end-to-end communication verification by technician on-site.
Remote support
Training available.?7 years telephonic support included (conditions apply).

Username: demo
Password: demo

Billing Engine

Billing Engine with configurable Tariffs and Time of Use Calendars. Time of Use supported.
Internationalization: including configurable Currency, Time Zone and Daylight-saving support.
Monthly Billing Wizard: provides checking of readings and bills.
Billing exports in CSV or SQL format. Additional Specific Reports or Billing Integration available at a fee.

Cost of Plug and Play Scada

Monthly, Yearly or Ever-Green License available, inclusive of O/S and DB licenses.
Training available