INTRODUCTION
Before understanding the concepts related to MQTT, we must get to the basics. One of the fundamentals that we must be aware of is the understanding of Azure IoT Hub. So, what does Azure IoT Hub technically and theoretically mean? Azure IoT Hub is made up of one or more devices and many back-end services that disseminate with each other.
Internet of Things (IoT) puts forward businesses immediate as well as real-world opportunities to lower and reduce the costs, escalate revenue, as well as transform their businesses.
Azure IoT Hub is an easy managed IoT service that is collocated in the cloud.
Azure IoT Hub
Azure IoT Hub provides,
Device libraries for the most commonly, habitually as well as frequently used platforms and languages for convenient and easy device connectivity.
Safe and secure communications with multiple options for device-to-cloud and cloud-to-device hyper-scale communication.
Advantages: Azure IoT Hub allows safe and secure communications. It also gives the access to control the use of per-device security keys. It gives us heavy monitoring for connectivity of devices and device identity management as well. It is inclusive of device libraries. This is for popular platforms as well as languages.
MQTT
MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is nothing but a lightweight messaging protocol that was developed by IBM and was first released in 1999.
MQTT can also be defined as a publish-subscribe network protocol that transports messages between devices.
- It translates messages between devices, servers and applications.
- Initially, the MQTT protocol was created to link sensors on oil pipelines with communication satellites, with prominence on minimal battery loss and bandwidth consumption.
- A few out of the several benefits offered by MQTT are minimized data packets, energy efficiency, real-time operation with little to no delay, and retained messages that clients automatically receive after subscribing.
Azure IoT Hub supports as well as assists the standardised version 3.1.1 of the MQTT protocol.
In other words, data can be exchanged with the IoT Hub via MQTT. It prioritizes safe and secure communication with no delay whatsoever.
KEY BENEFITS OF MQTT
In a world as quick and restless as we see today, one may come across the term MQTT protocol very often in their day-to-day lives. It has been over 2 decades since its advent and today, it is commonly used in various types of communication networks, the Internet of Things (IoT) being a very popular application for this protocol.
Coming to its benefits, MQTT offers its users the following comforts:
MQTT is highly reliable. It provides its users with features and opportunities of reliable messaging. It runs on TCP and uses QoS to provide stable and ensured data transfer.
Another factor that counts as a benefit of MQTT is its fast response time. It focuses on keeping the delays as negligible as possible.
MQTT also has the capability to support an unlimited and wide variety of devices.
It is perfect for many-to-many communication.
It is armed with sufficient documentation and a strong developer community that simplifies MQTT protocol implementation.
MQTT FROM THE LENS OF AZURE IoT HUB
MQTT has been one of the most popular protocols for IoT applications in contemporary years. It is one of the most convenient protocols currently in use in the IoT.
Client libraries for all major programming languages are available, making it simple to create IoT applications utilizing MQTT.
This protocol allows scalable projects to be implemented and further potentially links several IoT devices in a single system. MQTT’s bidirectional connectivity allows you to send messages to a large number of devices at the same time rather than sending them one at a time.
Many ready-to-use services are available through the Azure Portal and may be integrated right away. The final components are then connected to construct cloud apps. One of these components is the IoT hub, and it acts as the fundamental bi-directional connectivity for external data sources and IoT devices.
CONCLUSION
Azure IoT offers versatile solutions and works its best to cover all aspects of IoT design and development, mapping and connecting devices to deliver insights to the helm of decision-makers.
MQTT is a suitable alternative for your IoT device. It is a great choice for low-power wireless devices with unstable connections.
The IoT Hub acts as a data entry solution for the Microsoft Azure Portal.
MQTT can be used as a medium of communication with the IoT Hub. MQTT is versatile and hence this versatility allows it to accommodate a wide horizon of use cases and IoT project topologies. The broker manages all connections, therefore, neither the publishers nor the subscribers of the system or subject are made aware of each other’s existence and presence.
