Unlike many other M2M and device management systems, AggreGate may be easily installed and tested by anyone. We have made many efforts to simplify testing, and provided two components to help you evalulate the system without fully deploying it in your facility:

Public AggreGate LinkServer
Virtual device implemented by Agent that emulates an Access Control Panel

This article proposes two different testing scenarios:

Trying AggreGate Using The Public LinkServer

In this testing scenario, you will be able to experience the LinkServer user interface as a normal user. You may try all non-administrative control, monitoring and data management features, but no real devices will be available for you to work with. We will use AggreGate Client software to connect to LinkServer and get access to its features.

The following steps show how to install AggreGate Client software and connect to the public LinkServer.

Step 1: Downloading and Installing AggreGate Client

The public LinkServer always runs the very latest version of LinkServer software that is available on this website. Go to the Downloads page and get the latest version of AggreGate Client for your operating system. Install it by running the installer executable and following it's on-screen instructions.

Step 2: Running AggreGate Client and Creating a Workspace

Normally, AggreGate Client will launch automatically upon installation. You can start it manually at any time, e.g. by selecting Start > Programs > AggreGate > Client > AggreGate Client in Windows. When AggreGate Client starts, it shows an authorization window, requesting a name and password for the workspace.

Create a new workspace:

Select a username and password and enter them in the dialog. It can be anything you want - just don't forget it. For example, you can use a username such as admin with a password such as agg000.
Click OK.
Answer Yes to the Workspace does not exist. Do you want to create a new one? prompt.

Step 3: Creating New Server Connection and Registering New User Account on LinkServer

Now you have to connect your Client to the LinkServer. This involves creating a new Server Connection. You should do this step using the Interactive Guide, which gives step by step instructions.

Find the "Create new Server Connection" Interactive Guide in the interactive guides window and click it to start. If interactive guides window is not shown, you can show it by selecting Help > Open Interactive Guide.

Follow the instructions of Interactive Guide and enter the following Server Connection Parameters when requested:

IP Address or Host Name: linkserver.tibbo.net
Port Number: 6460
Username: any newly created username (4 chars min)
Password: any password (4 chars min)

Client will try to connect to the LinkServer, but as the account with username and password that you've specified does not exist, you will be prompted to register it. Click Yes.

Step 4: Working with LinkServer

By now, your Client should be connected to the LinkServer and its System Tree will show system objects you can manage. You can view events, create and manage alerts, view reports, execute queries, create and run widgets etc.

Trying AggreGate Using a Virtual Device (Access Control Panel)

In this scenario you make full installation of AggreGate on your PC. It has just one differences from the production system: AggreGate Agent(s) are not connected to the real hardware devices. Instead, they emulate functioning of Access Control Panels, a well-known security devices. The following steps help to deploy and test AggreGate on your PC.

Step 1: Getting, Installing and Starting AggreGate LinkServer

Go to the Downloads page and get the latest version of AggreGate LinkServer for your operating system. Install it by running the installer executable and following its on-screen instructions.

LinkServer will start automatically when installation is finished. You can launch it manually at any time, e.g. by selecting Start > Programs > AggreGate > LinkServer > AggreGate LinkServer in Windows.

Step 2: Getting, Installing and Starting AggreGate Client

Download AggreGate Client (same version as LinkServer) from the Downloads page. Install and start it as described above.

Step 3: Creating a Workspace

Create new workspace in Client as described in the previous scenario.

Step 4: Creating a New Server Connection for LinkServer Administrator

Now you need to log in to the LinkServer as an Administrator. Follow the instructions from the previous scenario, but use different Server Connection Parameters:

IP Address or Host Name: localhost
Port Number: 6460
Username: admin
Password: admin

Your Client should now connect to LinkServer and give you full administrator-level access to it.

Step 5: Setting Up AggreGate Agent

At this step, you will need one programmable module manufactured by Tibbo (such as EM1000). This module will run the AggreGate Agent BASIC application customized to emulate an Access Control Panel.

First, you'll need to download and install the latest version of TIDE (Tibbo IDE) software. It is available at the Taiko Downloads page.

Second, get and install the source code of the Agent BASIC application from the AggreGate Downloads page.

Unzip agent.zip, launch TIDE and select File > Open Project. Open agent.tpr from the folder where you've unzipped the AggreGate Agent archive. Then go to Project > Settings and correct anything you may need there (e.g. target platform). Make sure you disable debug version.

Plug your programmable module (most likely, you'll be using some evaluation board, not the module itself) into the network and power it up. It must be located in the same network segment with PC running TIDE, i.e. not separated from it by routers or firewalls.

Then open Project > Select/Manage Target, find your programmable module in the list and select it. Click SELECT to close the dialog.

Upload the latest firmware into your programmable module by clicking Upload, selecting Load Firmware from the Network and choosing firmware file. You can get latest firmware for your module from the Taiko Downloads page.

Select Project > Rebuild All and Upload. Your Agent will be compiled and uploaded into the device.

Select Debug > Restart.

Your Agent should be now running and visible for AggreGate LinkServer.

Step 6: Connecting Agent to the LinkServer

For this step to complete successfully, your LinkServer and Agent should be located in the same network segment, i.e. not separated by routers or firewalls. After completing this step you can put your Agent in some protected network, but it must be able to reach the LinkServer's IP address.

In AggreGate Client, start the Connect an Access Point interactive guide. Follow its instructions carefully and connect your Agent-based Device Server to the LinkServer.

Your Device running Agent should now appear as Online (green) in the System Tree.

Your System Tree now gives you access to the Aggregate Agent node and Access Control Panel node that represents a virtual Access Control Panel! You can use the full range of device management features to control it. Refer to the AggreGate documentation for more information about these features.