Introduction to gateways

Having your own data available on the Platform is essential to start doing energy management, and gateways have a fundamental role in this purpose.

In this article, you are going to learn everything about Gateways and how to insert data into the platform.

• What is a gateway?
• Data flow: From real life to the EMS
• Glossary
• Obtain MAC and Token from a gateway

 

What is a gateway?

A gateway is a data-logger that links real data with the EMS Platform. It is the datalogger that stores all the information coming from the data insertion.

Each gateway contains 1 or more devices (meters) and each meter contains 1 or more parameters (measurable factor of a set).

A gateway in the Platform can be the gateway installed in the field (so a physical gateway) or it can be virtual.

You must create and properly configure it in order for your data to get into the platform. Learn how to create a new gateway in the Platform.

 

Data flow: From real life to the EMS

Data is collected from the installation through meters or sensors, where each one of them can measure different parameters like electricity, water, etc.

• Sending data
• How is the data stored in the EMS Platform?
• Real-life - EMS diagram

Sending data

The information obtained from meters or sensors is sent to the Platform through:

• Services (like FTP or SFTP),
• Physical gateways (Check out our Third-party integrations), or
• the insertion API (via Virtual Gateways)

For more information, go and create a new gateway.

 

How is the data stored in the EMS Platform?

The 3 different insertion methodologies explained in the previous point are represented in DEXMA as Gateways.

Inside each gateway, a device is created representing each meter in the field and, inside each device, a parameter is generated representing each service (water, electricity..).

Those parameters in DEXMA are called Datapoints. 

Once the data is stored in the EMS Platform, you will have to follow a few settings steps in order to visualise it.

 

Real-life - EMS diagram

Here you can visualise a diagram showing the real installation VS the final situation in the EMS Platform.

Now you can start configuring your own gateways!

 

Glossary

• Gateway: is the data-logger used to keep the information coming from data insertion. 
• Device: represents the meter that is measuring real data in the installation on the platform. It can store data from different parameters.
• Parameter / Data-point: a measurable factor of a set; a storage unit that contains monitored data of a specific parameter. They belong to a device.

 

Obtain MAC and Token from a gateway

 

How to obtain the MAC address