📄️ Manifests in IoT Central
A manifest in the context of Azure IoT Edge is a JSON document that describes which modules (containers) to deploy to an IoT Edge device and how to configure these modules. It essentially forms the blueprint for an IoT Edge device. A module in IoT Edge is the smallest unit of computation managed by IoT Edge and can contain Azure services, third-party services, or your own solution-specific code.
📄️ How to create a Deployment Manifest
Define the structure
📄️ Example Manifest
Let's have a closer look at a specific IoT Edge deployment manifest, which includes the essential $edgeAgent and $edgeHub modules, along with custom modules OpcPublisher and factsSqlModule. This manifest exemplifies how to establish a multifaceted IoT Edge device setup, showcasing the configuration of modules, the creation of custom routes for data flow, and the management of detailed module properties.
📄️ Modbus Module
Modbus is a communication protocol developed in the late 1970s for use with programmable logic controllers (PLCs). It has since become a de facto standard communication protocol in the industry, and it is now widely used for connecting industrial electronic devices.
📄️ IO-Link Module
IO-Link is a standardized communication protocol used in industrial automation to connect sensors and actuators to a control system. It provides a point-to-point serial communication protocol that allows the exchange of data between IO-Link-enabled devices and an IO-Link master module. This technology enables devices to transmit not only process data but also diagnostics and parameters, facilitating improved control, configuration, and monitoring of the automation system.
📄️ OPC UA Module
OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) is a machine to machine communication protocol for industrial automation developed by the OPC Foundation. It provides a robust, secure, and scalable framework for communications and data exchange in the industrial automation space.
📄️ SQL Module
In the context of Azure IoT Edge, the SQL module (also known as Azure Stream Analytics module) allows you to run Stream Analytics jobs on your IoT Edge devices. Azure Stream Analytics is a real-time analytics service designed to help you analyze and visualise streaming data in real time.
📄️ Microsoft Simulator Module
The Simulated Temperature IoT Edge Module is a specialised software module developed by Microsoft. This module emulates data generation that is typically associated with a temperature sensor device. It is mainly used with Azure IoT Edge and can be effectively employed for testing and development purposes, especially in the absence of actual sensor devices.