Terms
This topic defines the basic terms related to IoT Edge.
Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
Edge integrated device | An integrated hardware and software product for the IoT Edge service. It hosts applications and algorithms for edge services. |
Host | The cloud-side representation of an edge integrated device that abstracts its resource capabilities. |
IoT Edge console | The cloud management platform for IoT Edge. It provides cloud-based management, control, and monitoring for edge integrated devices and their associated software and hardware resources. |
IoT Edge management platform | The local management platform for IoT Edge. It provides offline management for network configurations, algorithm tasks, and terminal devices on an edge integrated device. |
Associated software and hardware resources for the all-in-one edge appliance | Resources associated with an edge integrated device, such as algorithms, applications, and terminal devices. |
Terminal device | A device that connects to an edge integrated device through a specific protocol or interface. The edge integrated device acts as an agent, enabling the device to communicate with the cloud. IoT Edge supports two types of terminal devices: general-purpose devices and video devices. |
Video device | A device used for video capture, storage, or playback. IoT Edge supports two types of video devices: Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and IP Cameras (IPCs). |
General-purpose device | Common Internet of Things (IoT) devices and systems, such as sensors, gates, air conditioners, and business systems. These devices communicate using standard protocols. Connect these devices using the official drivers provided by Alibaba Cloud, or develop custom drivers using the custom driver development framework. |
Driver | The feature in IoT Edge that connects general-purpose devices. It is also known as a device connection driver. |
Official driver | A common protocol driver provided by IoT Edge. Official drivers include Modbus, OPC UA, WebSocket, and LinkDriver. LinkDriver integrates the Alibaba Cloud Link software development kit (SDK). |
Application software | The application management framework in IoT Edge for edge business programs. It supports containerized applications and process-based applications. |
Pre-installed application | Application software pre-installed on an edge integrated device. Activate it to use it immediately. Note The pre-installed applications vary by the model of the edge integrated device. For details about the applications, see the manual included with your device. |
Containerized application | An application that runs in a Docker container on an edge integrated device. It is managed using Kubernetes. |
Process-based application | An application that runs as a process on an edge integrated device. It is managed by the binary runtime within the edge framework. |
IoT middleware | A collective term for the official drivers, protocols, and application software from Alibaba Cloud IoT Platform. Use them to develop IoT and edge services. |
Cloud-native middleware | A collective term for the open source databases, messaging systems, and monitoring systems that IoT Edge integrates into an edge integrated device. |
Binary runtime | An application runtime in the software architecture of an edge integrated device. It means the device runs applications based on binaries. |
Container runtime | An application runtime in the software architecture of an edge integrated device. It means the device runs applications based on containers. |
Edge Function Compute | A functional module in IoT Edge. It provides an edge-side Function Compute SDK that developers use to create function applications and connect them to an edge integrated device. This module also provides tools to manage the function code. |
Remote terminal | A remote O&M feature in IoT Edge. Log on to the remote terminal to remotely access and manage an edge integrated device. |
Instance | A resource management feature in IoT Platform for resources such as products, devices, and rules. Two types of instances are supported:
|
Video instance | A type of Enterprise instance. It supports connecting IPC and NVR devices to IoT Platform and provides audio and video services. |