OEMs and systems integrators deploying Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure face a delicate balancing act. On one hand, customers want sophisticated, scalable, and highly differentiated solutions that provide a competitive edge. On the other hand, they want to minimize investment and avoid becoming dependent on a single vendor.

Threading this needle is increasingly the domain of open-source software. Platforms like the Clea software suite, for example, address this dilemma by integrating the core infrastructure required to deploy advanced IoT systems at scale without vendor lock-in. The combination gives systems architects, engineers, and other stakeholders across the IoT value chain a unique means of delivering value-added designs as well as freedom from the constraints of proprietary solutions.

Clea is comprised of the open source Astarte data orchestration engine, the open source EdgeHog device manager, and the Portal user interface. Together, these components simplify data and device management while facilitating integration of advanced AI – all on open source.

The entire stack is built in a modular framework that allows developers to adapt the platform to their needs and deploy it on a variety of edge devices and systems. For example, Portal and Astarte could be implemented without the use of Edgehog as the device manager.

To understand the implications for OEMs and systems integrators, it is worth examining its components in greater detail.

Astarte: Simplifying IoT data complexity

The key value of Astarte is its simplicity: it abstracts away the complexities of data orchestration while ensuring that data arrives at the right place, at the right time. By doing so, Astarte streamlines data flow, storage, and analysis.

Notable capabilities include:

• Efficient data orchestration: Implemented in the cloud and on edge devices, Astarte aggregates and reduces data on the fly, enabling the IoT fleet to easily scale to millions of devices and thousands of data pipelines. Plus, the platform is protocol-agnostic, so it can interface to virtually any data source.
• Smart analytics: Built-in features analyze data and support seamless integration with AI technologies, enabling the creation of AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) offerings. Data models can be created through user-friendly UIs—no coding required.
• User-friendly approach: Although it leverages the latest in distributed, scalable microservice technology, users don’t need to concern themselves with the details of this plumbing. Instead, they can focus on building data pipelines and data science workloads.
• Open source: Fully available source code enables portability among platforms and adaptability in its functionality.

In short, Astarte reduces the learning curve for building advanced data analytics pipelines, enabling developers to focus on value-added features.

EdgeHog: Powerful, integrated device management

EdgeHog specializes in managing and monitoring IoT device fleets. Built on top of Astarte and implemented in the cloud and on edge devices, its capabilities range from device monitoring to over-the-air (OTA) software management.

Key features include:

• Container management: In addition to the expected OS and software update capabilities, EdgeHog supports remote and over-the-air (OTA) container management. This game-changing feature gives OEMs and systems integrators a way to offer customers seamless control over their edge-to-cloud IoT infrastructure at whatever levels of granularity are needed – single devices, groups of devices, or globally.
• Device lifecycle management: From initial deployment to regular maintenance and eventual retirement, EdgeHog ensures that each stage of the device’s lifecycle is monitored and managed effectively. This leads to a significant reduction in downtime and extends the longevity of devices.
• Tight integration: EdgeHog permits more cohesive and efficient device provisioning, onboarding, and orchestration, which is enabled by an array of features that streamline device management processes.
• Open source: Fully available source code enables portability among platforms and adaptability in its functionality.

With EdgeHog, OEMs and system integrators gain a valuable means of extending service offerings without having to invest in complex toolchains.

For our embedded hardware, SECO offers Edgehog OS – a Linux-based operating system which incorporates the most critical features of Astarte and Edgehog into a platform-deployable release. Edgehog OS further simplifies the deployment of IoT infrastructure.

Portal: The gateway to IoT insights and management

The Clea Portal provides an intuitive web-based user interface for end customers to interact with edge devices, and edge device data, via Astarte and Edgehog APIs. Through it, users glean valuable intelligence from IoT deployments while ensuring the robust and reliable operation of edge devices. Portal capabilities can be extended with minimal coding effort. The platform can serve as a monetization framework for deploying value-added subscription services.

Portal is supported by a dedicated SECO design services team that provides comprehensive advice on how to use data to make data-driven decisions, generate new business models, and add value. The team can also help adapt front-end Clea systems to end customers’ corporate identities.

Accelerate the journey into IoT markets

With its unique modular, scalable, and open source approach, Clea and its constituent components can be deployed in any cloud or on any edge hardware. And its cloud-native architecture makes it easy to integrate with other apps. These capabilities make it easy for OEMs and system integrators to adapt to their own or end customer requirements.

Looking to accelerate your journey into new IoT markets? Contact SECO today to learn how you can build value-added solutions and services on top of open source.