Brk Introduction; Introduction; Features - ICP DAS USA BRK Series User Manual

1. BRK Introduction

1.1 Introduction

BRK Series is an Communication Server that specially provides Broker function of MQTT protocol for
MQTT message distribution and concentrator in M2M and Industrial Internet of Things environments. The
BRK Series is compatible with the MQTT version V.3.1, V.3.1.1 and V.5.0 protocol. It supports many
functions such as QoS message quality mechanism, retains mechanism, identity authentication,
communication encryption, last message (Last Will), and bridge. The method of Web UI settings can
quickly set up BRK functions. This reduce the burden of setting up the broker by user oneself and the
maintenance cost. Besides, BRK Series provides Bridge, Cluster, Load Balancer, and High Availability
functions. By forming multiple BRK Series a group to a better Redundancy system can prevent field
systems from stopping services due to hardware or network failures.

1.2 Features


Provide Bridge and Cluster functions, which allows excellent scalability
The Bridge and Cluster functions can expand the limits of service and data sources for MQTT Broker
applications:

Bridge function
Allows BRK series to forward/subscribe the messages to other BRK series or third-party MQTT
Brokers. By forwarding messages, it can direct the message to other BRK series service side. By
subscribing to the remote brokers, it can increase the data sources.

Cluster function
Allows BRK series in the same group to share data to others with lower resources. When the
number of connections and messages exceeds the limit of a BRK, using the cluster function can
increase the number of connections to meet the needs.

Support High Availability architecture
When there are more than two BRK devices in the same site, they can be set as backup between
each other. When the BRK device that is providing services fails or goes offline, other BRK device can
detect and take over in a short time to ensure that the service will not be interrupted for a long time.

Support Load Balancing Function, which can effectively configure tasks and optimize MQTT
communication
The BRK load balancing function can be used in conjunction with the MQTT bridging or clustering
function. A BRK device in this group provides a single fixed IP and communication port to connect
other BRK clients in the group, which can be effectively allocated to the BRK devices in the group for
MQTT communication services. This function simplifies user configuration and maximizes the overall
system service capacity: when a single or a small number of devices in the group fail, the connection
can be redistributed to other BRK devices to continue to provide communication services.

Support Redundancy System
Based on the High Availability architecture and Load Balancing function. This redundancy is hardware
backup. In the entire MQTT Broker group, if one of the BRKs fails or disconnects, the other BRKs with
BRK Series User Manual V1.0 - ICP DAS
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