The Internet of Things (IoT) produces massive quantities of data, such as streaming data, time-series data, RFID data, and sensory data, among other things. The use of a database is needed for efficient data management. The existence of IoT data necessitates a separate database. Here are some databases that produce excellent results when combined with IoT.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network in which different objects are linked to one another through a common platform. Consider a world where every system at home and at work is connected, where the air conditioning in a room automatically decreases its temperature as the outside temperature increases, where the number of participants in every public meeting can be easily measured, and where one’s health parameters can be tracked on a daily basis. This is the Internet of Things’ potential influence.
The Internet of Things is still in a very fractured state. Various businesses and associations are creating their own networks, either for their clients or for their own needs. However, there is still a need for a shared platform on which all devices, regardless of manufacturer, can communicate with one another through a user-friendly interface.
Is a database needed for the Internet of Things?
Many tedious challenges arise as a result of the Internet of Things, especially in the field of database management systems, such as integrating massive amounts of data in real-time, processing events as they occur, and coping with data protection. For example, IoT-based traffic sensors deployed in smart cities will generate massive amounts of real-time traffic data.
In order to properly handle IoT data, databases play a critical role. As a consequence, the right database is just as critical as a successful platform. Since IoT operates in such a complex setting around the world, selecting an appropriate database becomes extremely difficult.
Key factors for selecting a database for IoT applications
Until selecting a database for IoT applications, consider the following factors:
1) Indexing, size, and scale
2) Reliability when dealing with vast numbers of data
3) User-friendly schema
4) Convenience
5) Languages for querying
6) Transactions and process modelling
7) Convergence and heterogeneity
8) Aggregation of time series
9) Archiving
10) Cost and protection
Types of data in IoT
The types of data in the Internet of Things are:
1) RFID (radio frequency identification) is a word that refers to a device that
2) Special identifiers/addresses
3) Method, device, and object descriptive data
4) Environmental data and positional data are pervasive.
5) Sensor data: time series data in multiple dimensions
6) Information from the past
7) Models of physics: These are models that serve as representations for reality.
8) Actuator status and control order data
Databases suited for the Internet of Things
1. InfluxDB
InfluxDB is a relatively new database, having been published in 2013. This database, which is entirely based on LevelDB, a key-value database, was created using the Go programming language. InfluxDB is a time series database for optimising and handling time series data. Kdb was the first to release time series data in 2000, but InfluxDB gained popularity as the Internet of Things grew, as it gave rise to NoSQL, NewSQL, and a vast amount of growing data.
The following are some of the benefits of using InfluxDB for IoT data:
1) Allows series to be indexed.
2) It allows automated data down sampling and has a SQL-like query language.
3) It also has built-in linear interpolation for missing data.
4) Allows for continuous queries in order to calculate aggregates.
2. CrateDB
CrateDB is a distributed SQL database management system. It is designed for high scalability since it is open source and written in Java, and it includes components from Facebook Presto, Apache Lucene, Elasticsearch, and Netty. CrateDB was developed with the intention of putting IoT data to use. CrateDB is the database of choice for innovators of new IoT solutions, from the industrial Internet to connected vehicles to wearables.
The following are some of the benefits of using CrateDB for IoT data:
1) Hundreds of thousands of data points per second: Data ingestion that is quick and linearly scalable
2) In-the-moment queries: In-memory SQL output is provided by columnar indices and field caches.
3) Dynamic schema: On-the-fly addition and querying of new sensor data structures
4) IoT analytics: Time series, AI, geospatial, text search, joins, and aggregations are all examples of IoT analytics.
5) On at all times: Data replication and cluster rebalancing are built-in, ensuring nonstop results.
6) ANSI SQL: There’s no lock-in, and it’s quick to use and integrate for any developer.
7) MQTT broker built-in: Direct device-to-database integration.
8) Internet of Things Ecosystem: Works with common IoT stack software such as Kafka, Grafana, NodeRED, and others.
9) Runs on the edge or in the cloud for efficient processing.
3. MongoDB
MongoDB is a document-oriented database software that is available as a free and open source cross-platform framework. It is classified as a NoSQL database application. MongoDB makes use of JSON-style documents with schemas. Organizations like it for IoT because it allows them to store data from any context, analyse it in real time, and modify the schema as they go.
The following are some of the benefits of using MongoDB for IoT data:
1) An incredibly efficient database
2) Document-oriented
3) Has a wide variety of applications
4) It uses JSON-like documents with schemas since it is a NoSQL database.
4. RethinkDB
RethinkDB is at the top of the open source database list. It’s a built-from-the-ground-up portable JSON database for the real-time Network. By transposing the conventional database architecture, RethinkDB presents an innovative new access model. When a developer issues a command, it can continuously push modified query results to applications in real-time. Changefeeds are a feature created by the developers. Changefeed allows RethinkDB to act as a database, real-time repository, and message broker for the machine state. Its real-time push design cuts the time and effort taken to create scalable real-time apps in half.
The following are some of the benefits of using RethinkDB for IoT sensor data:
1) For testing APIs, RethinkDB has an adaptable query language that is simple to set up and understand.
2) If a primary server crashes, commands are immediately transferred to a new server.
3) The simple addition of nodes is aided by the plug-and-play feature of nodes in real-time, with no downtime for even a single second.
4) Provides asynchronous queries via Ruby and Tornado’s Eventmachine, which provides an asynchronous application programming interface.
5) It provides SSL access solely to provide safe access to RethinkDB over the Internet.
6) RethinkDB provides a number of mathematical operators, including floor, ceiling, and round.
5. SQLite Database
SQLite Database Engine is a process library that offers a transactional SQL database engine that is serverless (standalone). Because of its portability and small footprint, it has had a huge impact on game and mobile application growth.
Since SQLite does not need administrative permissions, it fits well with devices that do not need human assistance. Cell phones, set-top boxes, televisions, game consoles, cameras, watches, home appliances, thermostats, cars, power tools, ships, remote controls, drones, medical equipment, and robots, as well as IoT, are all good candidates.
Client/server database engines are intended to reside at the network’s hub, in a data centre. SQLite still operates there, but it thrives at the network’s edge. It can fend for itself while delivering fast and stable data services to applications with shaky connectivity.
The benefits of using SQLite for IoT data include:
1) It has a low memory footprint.
2) It is real.
3) There is no need to set anything up before using it.
4) Does not have any dependencies
