Building Smarter IIoT Solutions: The MING Stack and Raspberry Pi-Powered reComputer
Introduction
Introduction
Back in 2019, the concept of the “MING” stack—comprising MQTT, InfluxDB, Node-RED, and Grafana—was first introduced on the Balena forums. The vision behind MING was simple: empower embedded developers by providing a robust foundation of pre-built technologies, eliminating the need to reinvent the wheel. This approach not only accelerates project development but also serves as an ideal entry point for those venturing into IoT application development.
Much like how the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) revolutionized web development by addressing the challenges developers faced, the MING stack is poised to do the same for IoT and embedded systems developers. With the continued evolution of IoT, the open-source MING stack emerges as a beacon, enabling the next generation of IoT developers to achieve unprecedented levels of productivity.
The MING Stack Components
At the heart of the MING stack is Mosquitto, a lightweight MQTT messaging broker that excels at handling data exchange in IoT environments. MQTT’s highly scalable publish-and-subscribe protocol is capable of managing millions of messages per second, making Mosquitto an ideal choice for large-scale IoT applications.
The backbone of IoT data management, InfluxDB is an open-source time series database tailored for trend analysis across various IoT devices. Whether it’s predictive maintenance for factory equipment or monitoring environmental conditions, InfluxDB’s ability to record and analyze time-based data solves a myriad of IoT data challenges.
Node-RED is a powerful, open-source tool that simplifies the creation of data flows for IoT devices. By enabling seamless connectivity between devices, data sources, and services, Node-RED empowers developers to build custom IoT applications that process and analyze data in real-time, all through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
When it comes to visualizing IoT data, Grafana stands out as a leading open-source platform. Real-time monitoring is often the first application deployed in IoT systems, and Grafana’s graphing and dashboard capabilities make it an essential component of any IoT architecture.
Why MING Stack?
The MING stack’s versatility allows it to be deployed both on the edge and in the cloud, offering unmatched flexibility for IoT projects. With large, active developer communities and a relatively easy learning curve, MING enables rapid development and deployment of IoT applications, making it a go-to choice for developers aiming to stay ahead of the curve.
MING Stack on Seeed Devices
reComputer R1000
The reComputer R1000 is a robust, ready-to-deploy edge IoT controller built on the Raspberry Pi CM4 platform. Equipped with a quad-core processor, it supports a wide range of configurations, including 3 isolated RS485 ports, dual Ethernet, and optional wireless connectivity (4G, LoRa®, Wi-Fi/BLE, Zigbee). Ideal for smart building applications, agriculture, and smart automation scenarios, the reComputer R1000 can seamlessly integrate with cloud services like AWS using MQTT, while its support for multiple wired and wireless protocols ensures comprehensive data collection and management.
The reTerminal DM is an all-in-one Panel PC, HMI, and IIoT gateway powered by the Raspberry Pi CM4. Featuring a 10.1” IP65 front panel, it supports the Raspberry Pi-based software ecosystem and is equipped with rich interfaces, including CAN bus, RS485, RS232, and Gigabit Ethernet. Its powerful wireless communication capabilities (4G, LoRa®, Wi-Fi, BLE) enable seamless data transmission to the cloud. Additionally, its 10.1” IP65 front panel allows for on-premises data visualization, making it an ideal choice for field data collection and real-time monitoring.
reTerminal DM
The MING stack, combined with Seeed’s powerful edge controllers, represents a formidable solution for modern IoT applications. Whether deployed on the edge or in the cloud, MING enables developers to rapidly create, deploy, and scale IoT solutions, driving innovation and efficiency in an increasingly connected world.
Demo on MING Stack
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