University

We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked CemTore Questions. If you have a question that is not answered below, please feel free to sent us an email.

AeXonis Remarks

AeXonis suggests strongly University to Describe what data storage Architecture they wants to implement. AeXonis has a very long and robust experience in data processing and several level storage that for will benefit greatly Universities. Such advisory services are included at no cost in the university program set up by AeXonis. Universities should not hesitate to take benefit of such services.

1. How do you connect a Homemade Device ?

*You can connect Any Homemade Device, whatever it’s internal chip (Arduino, Raspberry, etc..), as long as the format of data sent respects interface defined in file aexonis_LoRaWAN_msg.h.
Simply select a Device vendor “Adafruit” and Device Profile “Feather using AEXONIS messaging interface” when provisioning a Device.

1.1 Are there any Hoops to jump through for integrating a Homemade Device into CemTore ?

*1/ Avoid Large messages, usually messages are less than 30 bytes.
2/ Avoid sending messages every Minute or less (Short period can be configured for temporary debugging).

2. Do we need to set up an MQTT broker and if so, is that something we need to do on our end?

*MQTT is a choice of Application among 3 proposed within CemTore.
Other possible Applications currently available within CemTore are MongoDB and AWS DynamoDB.
If partner’s solution is to receive data from an MQTT Broker, then we strongly suggest to partner to deploy their own Broker or subscript to MQTT broker service.
Public MQTT broker are best effort services which don’t guaranty any message loss or delay.

!University has to revert to the services included in contract with the MQTT Broker. Alternatively, AeXonis can propose a support service to set up the correct configuration.

2.1 How do we connect the Broker to a database in our data center?

*CemTore can push data to MongoDB or AWS DynamoDB in your data center, other storage technologies aren’t supported yet.

!In such configuration, the responsibility of AeXonis stops at the insertion of the data in MQTT. To connect the MQTT broker to the database of your data center is a service you can subscribe from your MQTT Broker or from AeXonis directly.

3. How do users access the Data hosted on a database in our Data Center?

*Please Refer to partner’s IT service to get credentials to access the data.
Cemtore doesn’t store the data, it forwards it to the partner’s Application of its choice.

!University Data Center is not under the responsibility of AeXonis but University IP partner/Department, please revert to them!

4. What is the workflow for a device from start to finish?

4.1 If I want to be holding a Device and process the data on my personal laptop in python/excel, what are the steps to do that?
Is that possible now with what we have? If not, what is missing?

*Refer to partner’s IT service to get credentials to access the data. Cemtore doesn’t store the data, it forwards it to the partner’s application of its choice.

!The data will be extracted from University Data Center, which is not under the responsibility of AeXonis but University IT partner / Department, please revert to them!

5. What Devices are available on their “Menu” of supported devices?

* The list of supported devices will be provided to University and be updated periodically. But also, AeXonis is going to propose soon some development boards pre-equipped in connectivity for University engineering to develop their own device prototypes. AeXonis is building a engineering team to assist Students and Professors looking for developing their own devices.

5.1 How do we get more devices ? Who buys/pays for them ?

*University has the option either to buy directly the device to the manufacturer or to order the devices thru AeXonis.

*Buying Devices thru AeXonis presents many Advantages:
1/ Unique point of contact, AeXonis for a large catalog of device manufacturers instead of University negotiating with each manufacturer à purchasing simplification.
2/ In case of defect on the device covered by the warranty, University reverts only to AeXonis, whoever is the manufacturer allowing logistic simplification.
3/ Same price guarantee as per manufacturer price à no additional cost.
4/ Several high value advisory services are provided by AeXonis free of charge to assist University in the choice of the device. AeXonis engineering team is permanently assessing the market to be up-to-date on the last device innovation.

6. Do we have a coverage Map for Campus/Surrounding area?

*An accurate radio coverage map will be available soon. Usually, the higher is the gateway, the larger will be the coverage.
A gateway located at 30m high, will cover 3-5 km radius in dense city.

7. Why Cemtore doesn’t provide applications of type PostGreSQL or MySQL ?

*Up to now, CemTore proposes Connectors to Application types endorsed by most IOT industries.
MQTT is encountered in many IOT solution and have been designed from scratch to become a standard.IOT is still at it’s beginning and fast development of devices and platforms requires flexibility over performances. NoSQL databases such as MongoDB or AWS DynamoDB doesn’t requires DB Admin to update tables and schemas each time a new device type or firmware is deployed.
With NoSQL databases, it’s up to the application writer to play with the datamodel that devices data have build day after day.

The huge benefit of CemTore

University doesn’t need anymore traditional SQL Database and the constraining DB administrator. MongoDB, DynamoDB are NoSQL database given lot of flexibility and much less administration constraint. AeXonis provides, free of charge training on NoSQL database and support at any stage of application development by University.