What is Connector?
The connector layer manages communication and data integration between devices, protocols, and the SolarTools platform.
Industrial environments often contain devices from multiple vendors using different communication standards. The connector structure standardizes data exchange across these systems.
The connector layer enables heterogeneous systems to operate together within a unified platform architecture.
How does a connector work?
The connector receives incoming data from devices or gateways, processes it, and converts it into a platform-compatible structure.
- Device generates data
- Gateway collects data
- Connector processes data
- Data is transformed into platform format
- Platform stores and analyzes data
This structure ensures consistent data communication across different systems and protocols.
Connector architecture
The connector layer processes incoming data from different sources, transforms it into a unified platform data model, and manages centralized data flow.
Devices and meters using the Modbus protocol.
Publishes real-time telemetry and messaging data.
External systems share data through REST services.
Industrial systems provide structured operational data.
Connector
Processes incoming data, manages protocol communication, and transforms data into the platform’s unified structure.
Unified Data Model
Merges disparate data sources into a standardized, consistent data model.
SolarTools Platform
Centralized monitoring, analytics, alarm and visualization layer.
Supported Integration Structures
The connector layer is designed to operate with different data sources, industrial communication protocols, and external integration systems.
- MQTT → Enables low-latency communication with IoT devices, sensor networks, and real-time telemetry systems through lightweight messaging infrastructure.
- Modbus → Supports transferring operational data from PLCs, energy analyzers, and industrial field devices into the platform system.
- OPC-UA → Provides secure, standardized, and structured communication between industrial automation systems.
- HTTP / REST → Enables API-based data integration with web services, ERP systems, and external software applications.
- TCP / Socket Structures → Supports low-level connection management for custom devices requiring continuous data communication.
- JSON / XML Transformation → Converts incoming data from different formats into the platform’s unified data model.
Role within the platform
The connector structure forms the integration layer of the platform, ensuring standardized and centralized data communication.
- Managing multiple protocols
- Transforming incoming data
- Handling real-time communication
- Creating external system integrations
- Standardizing centralized data flow
Use Cases
The connector layer plays a critical role in scenarios where data from different systems must be transformed into a unified platform data model.
Protocol Transformation → Converts incoming data from protocols such as Modbus, MQTT, and REST API into a unified platform structure.
System Integration → Enables ERP, SCADA, BMS, and IoT infrastructures to operate together within the same centralized platform.
Data Standardization → Filters and transforms raw data from different devices into the platform’s standardized data model.
Real-Time Data Flow → Maintains low-latency and continuous communication between data sources and the platform.
Why use connectors?
Industrial infrastructures often contain highly diverse data sources. The connector layer simplifies this complexity and provides a scalable communication architecture.
Without connectors, centralized communication and interoperability between systems becomes significantly more difficult.
Next step
After understanding connectors, continue with the device and tag model to explore how data is organized within the platform.