Protocols

Protocol choices often reshape the hardware shortlist more than teams expect. This section explains how protocol fit affects interoperability, data handling, engineering effort, and long-term architecture boundaries.

Core paths

Modbus, OPC UA, and MQTT fit A practical comparison of common industrial data paths and where each one tends to belong.

Applications Return to the environment and business objective if protocol debate gets detached from the real site.

Device types See which hardware classes handle the protocol mix with the least avoidable complexity.

Protocol review flow

Confirm which systems must talk to each other and who owns each endpoint.
Separate field protocol needs from upstream data delivery needs.
Decide where translation should happen and which device class should own it.
Compare the operational consequences before locking into vendor-specific hardware.