DCA Technical Overview: A Deep Dive into the Digitol Data Collection Agent
The Digitol-branded Data Collection Agent (DCA) is built on the robust and secure EKM Insight platform. This document translates the core technical capabilities of the DCA into knowledge base-ready language, providing IT teams, dealers, and chatbot users with answers to the most commonly raised questions about functionality, performance, security, and compatibility.
The DCA is a lightweight monitoring service installed inside a customer’s network. It automatically discovers and monitors printers, collects key operational data, and securely transmits it to Digitol’s Insight Portal, enabling timely service delivery, supply management, and asset optimization.
The DCA gathers five primary categories of data:
Asset Data: Model, make, location, IP address, serial number
Usage Data: Page counts and volumes
Alerts: Error messages, service conditions, diagnostics
Consumables: Toner levels, drum usage, waste containers
Media: Paper tray levels and media types
It never collects user or document data.
All communication is outbound-only, initiated by the DCA to the Digitol Cloud. This is critical for network safety:
Uses XMPP protocol over port 5222 or 443
All data is encrypted via SSL
No external devices ever initiate contact with the network
The data is first validated and encrypted before being transmitted to ensure accuracy and security.
All data is sent to Microsoft Azure data centers selected based on the customer’s region. These centers are:
Highly secure with 90+ compliance certifications
Configured for data residency and GDPR compliance
Monitored by a 24/7 Security Operations Center with AI-based threat detection
The DCA can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Raspberry Pi. Minimum requirements:
Windows 10 / Server: 4–8 GB RAM, dual-core CPU
macOS Catalina+: 8 GB RAM
Linux: Compatible with Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10.13
Raspberry Pi: 1 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, Class 10 SD card
It also supports virtual machines, provided they have stable access to the LAN.
Each printer monitored via SNMP generates ~1KB/day of data
Outbound ports used: 5222 (XMPP), 443 (HTTPS), 161 (SNMP)
Some printers may use HTTP(S) for extended monitoring
A whitelist of messaging and update servers may be required; URLs are provided by the service provider.
The DCA supports remote reconfiguration via IMIL (Insight Monitor Instruction Language). This allows:
Remote rescan of printers
Adding new discovery ranges
Restarting the monitor
It does not allow access to the OS, user files, or non-printer devices.
EWS Remote Connector: Allows access to printer web interfaces for diagnostics
HP JAMC: Adds enhanced HP Smart Device Services support
HP SDA: Supports USB-connected HP printers when paired with HP JAMC
All optional components use existing secure outbound protocols.
Insight Portal: Web-based dashboard (HTTPS access) for managing devices, supplies, and alerts
Messaging Hub: Encrypted real-time message relay
Insight API: Secure OAuth 2.0 API access for third-party integrations (ERP, CRM, service tools)
Role-based access control (including MFA)
Bulk printer management tools
Predictive consumables replacement algorithms
Alert routing and triage
Page count normalization for consistent billing
Ad-hoc and scheduled reporting
Custom notification and workflow automation
Integration with systems like e-Automate, PrintReleaf, HP SDS, Epson Remote
The Digitol DCA provides enterprise-grade monitoring capabilities using:
Secure, outbound-only communication
Zero user or content data access
Support for multi-vendor printer fleets
Cloud infrastructure aligned with data protection laws
A portal and API designed for automation, transparency, and scale
It’s built for the realities of modern print service environments—secure, scalable, and seamlessly integrated.
Related Reading:
DCA Installation – Process Overview and Dealer Support: Learn how the Data Capture Agent (DCA) powers Digitol’s platform, how it’s installed, and the vital role Digitol plays in setup and ongoing support.
Automated DCA + Profit Program Integration: Automate print supply profits with Digitol and DCA—map devices, match consumables, and trigger sales with zero manual effort and maximum margin protection.
DCA Pricing Overview for Managed Devices: Understand DCA pricing: a clear, scalable model where you only pay $0.25/month per managed device—free discovery and staging included.
EKM Insight Network Security Overview: Ensure safe, secure DCA deployment with encrypted, outbound-only communication, no user data collection, and full compliance with global standards.