Create an MQTT Connector
MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) is a widely-used lightweight protocol for machine to machine communication, perfect for the world of IoT. MQTT is used heavily for transporting telemtry from many devices to cloud systems like the Hark Platform, whilst also allowing the Hark Platform to communicate with the devices from the cloud.
Our MQTT Connector supports TCP/IP & WebSockets MQTT connections and TLS for encrypted transmission to ensure data is securely sent between the Hark Platform, and your devices.
To create an MQTT Connector, go to the Twin Engine in the Hark Platform. From there, you can click Create at the top of the list of your Connectors. Select MQTT Connector, and click Next.
Enter a name for your Connector, this name should be something you'll be able to identify the MQTT Broker you are connecting to.
From there, you'll to provide the details for your MQTT Broker. Enter the host for your MQTT Broker, and provide optional details such as a Username and Password, Port, and Client ID.
If you do not provide a port, the following table will help you understand which port the Twin Engine will try to use to connect to your MQTT Broker.
| Protocol | Secure | Port |
|---|---|---|
| mqtt:// | Yes | 8883 |
| mqtt:// | No | 1883 |
| ws:// | Yes | 443 |
| ws:// | No | 80 |
Keep Alive & Timeout
You can optionally provide a Keep Alive and/or Time Out setting for your Connector. They are configured using a HH:MM:SS time such as 01:30:00 for 1 Hour and 30 Minutes or 00:01:00 for one Minute.
- Keep Alive - The maximum amount of time that can elapse without communication before reconnecting.
- Timeout - How long the connector will wait while trying to establish a connection before timing out.
Finalising the Creation of your Connector
When you have configured your Connector, click Create and your Connector will be created. Clicking on your Connector on the left will provide you with an overview of your Connector.
When viewing an MQTT Connector, you will be able to see whether the Connector is Connected, and when the Connector last connected to your MQTT Broker.