Guidance on Establishing Connectivity for Serial Equipment to the Industrial Internet of Things via the Web

“Initially, we commenced the collection of data from wellhead applications to comprehend production results. Presently, my supervisor desires for me to gather additional data from field-site sensors like RTU or meters to develop an application that enhances OEE. Therefore, I am contemplating whether transmitting the field data to the cloud and analyzing it through cloud systems would be more effective?” These thoughts concerning cloud connectivity are now increasingly prevalent across diverse industries since the advantages of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can no longer be disregarded by managers. However, several aspects require your attention before incorporating cloud systems into IIoT applications. In this piece, we highlight the essential aspects to confirm before deciding on the necessity of storing your data in cloud systems. Moreover, if you opt to proceed towards the cloud, we can aid in selecting the most suitable devices for linking your field equipment to the cloud.

Is it Beneficial to Store Field Data in the Cloud?​

The rationale behind deploying IIoT is to gather data from end devices to obtain actionable insights. However, where should we preserve these vast volumes of data? As data consumers, we must ponder over some primary queries:

• Are the field devices in my application predominantly dispersed across various locations?
• Does my organization possess the capability to uphold its private data server, indicating whether I have the financial means and expertise to either perpetuate the computational power required by my application or ensure the storage capacity for the accumulated field data?
• Should my application have the capability to access field data from any place and at any time?
• Would my application necessitate expansion over time?

If your responses mostly align with “Yes” to the above queries, then it is advisable to establish connectivity for your devices with the cloud. Subsequently, after reaching a decision to link to the cloud, the next challenge is choosing interconnectivity devices that fulfill the criteria of your application.

Selecting Interconnectivity Devices for the Cloud According to Your Requirements

Once you opt to transfer your field data to the cloud, you will initially encounter the challenge that numerous edge devices do not communicate in a language understandable by the internet. The capability of interconnectivity devices to connect to the cloud is critical upon selecting the cloud as your backend data server. Apart from the southbound (supporting device protocols) and northbound (supporting cloud connections) capabilities of your network, data fusion is another facet that requires evaluation. In specific scenarios, data analysis or network integration functions might occur at the edge or in the cloud. These aspects significantly influence your choice of interconnectivity devices for your IIoT rollout.

The illustration below demonstrates the Capability Metrics of Interconnectivity Devices, delineating the proposed interconnectivity devices by aligning your data integration prerequisites with the designated backend data server.

In cases where data fusion need not transpire at the edge, a straightforward ready-to-deploy serial-to-cloud device can greatly simplify your efforts and initial expenditures.

An Efficient Approach to Integrate Your Serial Devices with the Cloud

Moxa’s out-of-the-box serial-to-cloud devices, the NPort IA(W)5000A-I/O Series and MGate 5105-MB-EIP Series, facilitate the integration of various field data types, including serial, I/O, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP, onto diverse cloud platforms. These devices come equipped with a built-in SDK for Microsoft Azure and Alibaba Cloud, ensuring effortless and rapid cloud adoption, and support generic MQTT for connectivity to Amazon AWS cloud and other proprietary clouds.

Moreover, Moxa’s device servers and protocol gateways furnish an array of serial-to-cloud configurations and are designed to streamline your device setup. If you wish to obtain more insights on our product offerings, view our serial-to-cloud videoNPort IA5000A-I/O, NPort IAW5000A-I/O, and MGate 5105-MB-EIP product pages.

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Moxa boasts over three decades of experience in connectivity to furnish dependable network solutions for clients. Download the comprehensive Insider Guidemicrosite