Understanding Devices
In Zoho IoT applications, a Device represents a real world entity that can be a gateway, a smart device, a sensor, or even a virtual service/system application that needs to be managed and monitored. Devices in the application are the essential conduit for communication between real-world entities and the Zoho IoT application.
A device in the application can be configured with the necessary datapoints, commands, overview dashboard, fields, and alarm rules that will help to reflect the real world entity and manage it.
For example, a smart thermostat that needs to be monitored by the Zoho IoT application can be added as a device in the application.
Device Types
A device is classified based on its nature and capability to communicate with the Zoho IoT application and other devices. In a Zoho IoT application, a device can be categorised into one of the following four types:
- Gateway Device
- Peripheral Sensor
- Smart Sensor
- API Endpoint
Gateway device refers to devices that collect and aggregate data from various sensors, devices, and systems and communicate with the Zoho IoT application. These gateway devices are essential for bridging the gap between non-internet-connected devices and the Zoho IoT application. They are capable of reporting both their own status and the status of connected devices, ensuring comprehensive monitoring and integration within the IoT ecosystem. (eg: TRB 145, Raspberry Pi).
Peripheral Sensors refer to devices that cannot communicate directly with the application and depend on a gateway device to relay data. The gateway device acts as a messenger, communicating with the Zoho IoT application on behalf of the sensors. (eg: Energy Meters, Control Valves).
Smart Sensor refers to devices capable of sensing and controlling data and communicating directly with the application or via datastream. (eg: Shelly H&T, Milesight AM103).
API Endpoint can be used to connect third party applications that act as virtual devices and communicate to the Zoho IoT application. (eg: MQTT and HTTPS clients, DAQ Applications).
Supported Connectivity protocol
MQTT and HTTPS are protocols that can be used to communicate with the Zoho IoT application.
Learn more about authentication types supported by Zoho IoT.
LoRaWAN Datastreams can be used to establish connection between the Zoho IoT application and the LoRa Network Server (LNS) in which the LoRa device are managed.
Learn more about datastreams.Connectivity Schematic
Device Relationships
Devices can have two types of system defined relationships within the Zoho IoT application:
Connected Gateway: Devices act as a messenger for assets or locations, including peripherals providing their data for monitoring and management.
Data for Assets, Locations, and Peripheral type devices can be acquired from the Device (Gateway/Smart Sensor) once a relationship between them is established. This relationship is established by selecting the required device (Gateway/Smart Sensor) in the Connected Gateway (System Defined) field in the corresponding Asset, Location, or Peripheral Device.
Connected Asset Relationship: Peripheral device types can be associated with assets through the Connected Asset (system defined) field, making the peripheral a part of a complex asset system.
Connected Asset Relationship: Peripheral device types can be associated with assets through the Connected Asset (system defined) field, making the peripheral a part of a complex asset system.
Consider a Diesel generator equipped with a fuel level sensor to monitor its fuel levels. In the Zoho IoT application, the Diesel generator is added as an asset, and the fuel sensor is added as a peripheral device. To establish a relationship between the two, the fuel sensor can be linked to the Diesel generator by selecting it in the "Connected Asset" field.
Datapoints and Commands of the related asset/location/peripheral device will become the related datapoint/command of the gateway device.
Learn more about related and source monitoring and control modules in Zoho IoT applications.
Note: Managed Entities (Device, Asset, Location) can establish relationships with multiple other entities by using user defined lookup fields as well.Adding a Device
Creating a device in the Zoho IpT application requires a Device Model and a Device Product (not required for API endpoints). The Zoho IoT application features a device gallery showcasing supported and supportable device products for users to choose from. To effectively add a device, it's crucial to understand the concepts of device model and device product within the Zoho IoT application.
Actions
The following actions can be performed on a device added to the Zoho IoT application:
- Manage/Unmanage: Unmanaging a device will deactivate it, stopping data collection and disabling alarm rules, while managing it will reactivate these functions.
- Reregister: If you need to change the security credentials or authentication type (in case of MQTT) of a device, you can reregister it. This will generate a new set of credentials, which must be updated on the physical device. Reregistering is done if you feel like your credentials are compromised or you want to up the security of your device.
- Formatter and Handler: You can view and manage the message formatter and handler associated with the device.
Zoho IoT Agent
Zoho IoT Agent is an application software developed by Zoho IoT for supported hardware, designed to streamline the onboarding process to Zoho IoT applications. It allows peripheral configurations to be easily done in the application and pushed directly to the hardware over the network for seamless integration and management.
Learn more about Zoho IOT agent.
Zoho IoT SDK and Plugins
The Zoho IoT SDK and Zoho Plugins are tools developed by Zoho IoT to facilitate faster connection & seamless integration with the Zoho IoT Application by handling device communication configurations.
Zoho IoT SDK provides developers with a software development kit for creating customised applications for your hardware/device, enabling efficient communication between devices and Zoho IoT applications while users can take care of business logic.
Zoho Plugins extend the functionality of the Zoho IoT applications by allowing easy integration with third-party applications like Node-Red.
Learn more about Zoho IoT SDKs and Plugins.
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