IIoT Architecture
Overview​
Ignition can collect data from any devices at the edge of the network, publish that data to a central broker, and push that data to subscribed industrial and line-of-business applications. Ignition IIoT can connect to PLCs in the field through the use of the MQTT Transmission module, field devices with Ignition Edge MQTT installed, and/or MQTT-enabled edge gateways and field devices that use the Cirrus Link Sparkplug MQTT specification. This data is published to an MQTT broker, this broker can be located on-premise, in the cloud, or a hybrid of the two. The MQTT Engine module located on an Ignition Gateway can subscribe to any data published from the broker. This data can be used in any Ignition application.
IIoT Architecture Example​
IIoT architecture typically involves the use of the MQTT protocol to communicate with a large number of devices. MQTT is a lightweight and secure protocol that makes use of a unique publish/subscribe transportation method. Additional information on the MQTT protocol and modules can be found in the Cirrus Link documentation.
The Basic Architecture can easily be expanded with the MQTT modules to collect data from numerous Edge of Network devices. Data collected by the MQTT Engine can be historized and presented in a client with the Vision module, or via reports with the Reporting module.
IIoT Architecture Objects​
The following are key pieces in the IIoT Architecture.
Field Device​
A Field Device of some sort can be used to connect to a PLC. This device also needs to be able to publish Tag values to an MQTT server. Any of the following hardware can act as a Field Device:
- Ignition Edge with the MQTT product
- Ignition server with the MQTT Transmitter Module
- Third-party MQTT enabled device
MQTT Server (Broker)​
An MQTT Broker is a server that can communicate with your Field Devices via MQTT. This can be an Ignition Gateway with the MQTT Distributor Module installed, or a third-party server, such as a Chariot MQTT Server.
Subscriber​
A subscriber is some application that subscribes to topics in the Broker. In regards to Ignition, this is the Gateway with the the MQTT Engine Module installed.
More details on the MQTT modules can be found in the Cirrus Link documentation.
