MQTT with Arlen Nipper, Matt Parris and Aron Semle

Apr 18, 2024

Guest

Arlen Nipper

Guest

Aron Semle

Guest

Matt Parris

Arlen Nipper, co-inventor of MQTT, shares fascinating insights on the protocol's inception and its role in evolving industrial messaging. Alongside Aron Semle of HighByte and expert Matt Parris, they explore how MQTT's lightweight pub-sub approach revolutionized SCADA systems and improved data efficiency. The trio dives into the progression from Sparkplug Z to the standardized Sparkplug B, emphasizing its applicability beyond just process control. They discuss real-world use cases, the criticality of data integrity, and envision a future of plug-and-play factories.

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INSIGHT

Statefulness Enables Report-By-Exception

MQTT is stateful because clients register a session and the broker holds state, enabling report-by-exception patterns.
That state lets systems publish only changed values and drastically reduce bandwidth compared to polling.

INSIGHT

Sparkplug's Device-Centric Roots

Sparkplug started as a device-centric format for packaging many device variables into a single efficient payload.
The community expanded its use beyond process control, but its core design remains optimized for edge device packaging.

ADVICE

Keep MQTT Core Minimal

Keep MQTT core simple and layer extensions externally rather than bloating the base protocol.
Build plugins or companion standards for discovery, RBAC, and schema enforcement through community projects or commercial platforms.

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Introduction

Overview of MQTT sparkplug protocol origins and its evolution. Timestamp: 0:00

Early MQTT Developments

Anandi recounts the early development of MQTT from its inception through its current applications.
Historical perspective on SCADA systems and communication protocols during the 1980s and 1990s, featuring discussions on the use of 300 baud modems and DEC PDP 11. Timestamp: 4:53

Transition in SCADA Technologies

Detailed exploration of SCADA technology advancements in the 1990s and the impact of deregulation on service providers. Timestamp: 9:57
Evolution of MQTT as a messaging protocol for industrial automation, its adoption by Phillips 66, and its development into a more efficient protocol. Timestamp: 16:49

Sparkplug Protocol Development

Origin and development of Sparkplug A and its evolution into Sparkplug B for improved efficiency and open-source accessibility. Timestamp: 22:04
Discussion on the broader application of MQTT and Sparkplug in process control and beyond, emphasizing community-driven expansions and usage. Timestamp: 27:13

Technical Deep Dive into MQTT and Sparkplug

Exploring the technical specifics of MQTT and Sparkplug protocols, including their architecture, data efficiency, and reliability improvements. Timestamp: 35:28
Panel discussion on expanding MQTT broker capabilities and the need for standardized MQTT plugins. Timestamp: 40:46

Integration and Standardization Efforts

Utilizing MQTT and OPC UA for enhanced IoT data communication and the challenges with standardization. Timestamp: 46:29
Approaches to using MQTT and Sparkplug for effective data integration and management. Timestamp: 53:30

Data Management and Quality of Service

Focus on using Snowflake for unified data management and preserving schema integrity. Timestamp: 57:48
Examination of Quality of Service (QoS) in SCADA systems, addressing safety concerns and data integrity. Timestamp: 1:02:29

Infrastructure and Security

Discussion on IoT infrastructure improvements, TCP vs. UDP protocols, and the importance of message ordering in industrial communications. Timestamp: 1:08:08
Insights into MQTT security enhancements and the implementation challenges of new versions of the spark plug standard. Timestamp: 1:12:18

Improving Messaging Architecture

Suggestions for enhancing Sparkplug messaging architecture, including the use of hierarchical structures and smart subscriptions. Timestamp: 1:18:02

Cloud Computing and Standardization

Deliberation on the impact of cloud computing on data management, emphasizing the role of Snowflake and the standardization efforts around Sparkplug. Timestamp: 1:23:51

These notes outline the key topics and discussions held during the podcast, providing listeners with a clear roadmap of the content and the timestamps for specific segments.