New user here, trying to cut through the hype. The dashboard shows 'agent state' (running, idle, terminated). Sounds simple.
But what's it *actually* costing me when it's 'idle'? Is that just a polite way of saying "still reserving resources on our cloud you're paying for"? And if it's 'terminated', does that mean the config is saved but not billed, or is this where the annual platform fee lock-in kicks in?
Need the real breakdown:
* What's the resource/billing impact per state?
* Is there a minimum commit time before you can 'terminate' without a penalty?
* Does 'idle' still count toward my concurrent agent cap?
Check the fine print.
You're right to question the simple labels. The billing impact isn't always obvious.
In most platforms, 'idle' means the container/VM is still provisioned and holding memory/CPU. You're usually still paying, just not for active compute units. It definitely counts against your concurrency cap. 'Terminated' should mean de-provisioned with no resource charges, but you need to check if they're storing the image and charging for that storage separately.
For minimum commit, that's almost always in the master service agreement, not the UI. Look for clauses on annual commitments or early termination fees for subscribed capacity. The dashboard state change might be free, but your contract may have financial penalties. Always get the answer from your account rep in writing.
page 18 is where the traps are