Edge Computing
Edge computing is a distributed computing approach that moves data collection, processing, and control closer to where data is generated like machines, sensors, and controllers. Handling tasks at or near the source instead of the IoT application reduces latency, saves bandwidth, increases resilience during connectivity gaps, and ensures critical data remains local when needed.
Edge computing in IoT is not just about computation but also about collecting data reliably from diverse industrial protocols. Acquiring and normalizing data from systems that communicate with various protocols like OPC UA, Modbus, BACnet, MQTT, HTTPS and other standards is often the first and most important step. This lays the foundation for local processing, analytics, and control.
Edge Computing with Zoho IoT
Zoho IoT recognises that organizations adopt edge computing with varying needs and expertise. This involves quick-start data collection, to robust industrial-grade deployments, to flexible tools for developers and OEMs to extend or embed edge capabilities.
To serve these diverse needs, Zoho IoT provides three distinct approaches to edge computing:
Edge Lite
Edge Lite is a lightweight agent for supported gateways that streamlines communication between gateways, Modbus devices, and the Zoho IoT application.
Learn More about Edge Lite.
Edge Server
Zoho IoT Edge Server is an industrial grade edge computation platform for medium to large scale deployments. It supports a wide range of protocols and the ability to build custom drivers. Edge Server reduces cloud dependency, improves resilience, and bridges the OT/IT gap and is recommended for plant wide and enterprise deployments.
Learn more about Edge Server.
SDK and Plugins
SDKs and Plugins are built for developers, OEMs, and system integrators requiring greater flexibility to integrate with Zoho IoT.
Learn more about SDK and Plugin.
Comparison: Edge Lite vs Edge Server vs SDK & Plugins
Criteria | Edge Lite | Edge Server | SDKs & Plugins |
Best For | Quick start, simple data collection & commands | Industrial grade, plant wide deployments | Developer based custom integrations & OEM solutions |
Audience | Operators, SMEs, quick pilots | OT/IT teams, large enterprises | Developers, OEMs, integrators |
Sensor/Peripheral Connectivity |
|
| Any protocol the developer chooses to integrate |
Cloud Connectivity | MQTT | MQTT | MQTT |
Processing | Lightweight, with optional custom data processing (Beta) | Advanced pipelines with prebuilt & custom blocks | Defined by the developer. |
Configuration | Managed from Zoho IoT cloud | Managed from Zoho IoT cloud | Local or cloud based using EdgeConfig (Beta) |
Scalability | Small setups, gateway level | Medium to large, plant-wide, enterprise level. | Any scale, depends on the developer’s design. |
Hardware Support | Teltonika gateways, Atreyo gateway, Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5. Full list of supported devices. | Runs on industrial PCs/servers. | Runs on any hardware the developer chooses including, but not limited to embedded boards, gateways, OEM devices. |
When to Choose | When you need a fast, low effort entry point | When you need large scale, resilient, real time edge computing | When you need maximum flexibility and control to define your own protocols, logic, and features. |
How to Choose?
- Choose Edge Lite if you want a simple and minimal setup with a cloud first way to start collecting data and sending commands.
- Choose Edge Server if you need plant wide, industrial grade edge computing with advanced processing pipelines and resilience.
- Choose SDKs & Plugins if you’re a developer or OEM looking for maximum control, where you define your own protocols, logic, and integrations.
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