Device Types
Device Types
Section titled “Device Types”Device categories matter because they define what a system can do reliably, what it costs to operate, and how much integration burden lands on the project team. This section clarifies job boundaries between hardware classes.
Core paths
Section titled “Core paths” Gateways, edge computers, and RTUs A practical comparison of the most frequently confused hardware classes in IIoT projects.
Applications Return to the deployment environment if the device shortlist starts expanding without discipline.
Comparisons Use comparison workflows after the hardware class is narrowed.
Key questions
Section titled “Key questions”- Does the site need translation, control, local logic, or just reliable data transport?
- What uptime, maintenance, and power assumptions does the hardware need to survive?
- How much software ownership is the operating team prepared to absorb?
- Which category minimizes avoidable complexity while still meeting the site objective?