Enrich Your IoT Solutions with the RutOS Package Manager
#2024, #rutos
Teltonika’s operating system, RutOS, offers a wide range of additional features available via the Package Manager service that you can download to Teltonika networking devices. This article explores some of the most popular and noteworthy packages you can download to enrich your IoT solutions!
Teltonika’s networking devices are defined by two key aspects: their hardware and their operating system – RutOS. However, while most features we incorporate into RutOS are compatible with the vast majority of Teltonika networking devices, storage limitations sometimes mean that not all features can be accommodated.
So, it comes as no surprise there’s a lot for you to discover in the realm of RutOS, including a hidden gem that opens up a world of possibilities – the Package Manager service!
A BOX OF CHOCOLATES, OR FEATURES
The Package Manager service functions like a buffet: you get to choose what you want. It offers a selection of additional system extentions without requiring you to download everything that’s available.
So, want to enhance your mobile connections, enable M2M communication, or install additional VPNs like Tailscale or ZeroTier? Package Manager is the place to go.
UNBOXING THE PACKAGE MANAGER
The Package Manager service offers an array of extensions revolving around application, mobile connection, system, and industrial packages. Installing any of these packages lets you configure the feature on RutOS and take advantage of its benefits. With over fifty different packages for you to pick from, we chose to list the most popular ones among our clients, presented below.
SNMP
SNMP, short for Simple Network Management Protocol, is an Internet standard protocol used for monitoring network devices connected over an IP address and detecting any network faults.
With less demand for resources and simplicity, SNMP helps extract data from endpoints with minimal overhead, easy implementation, and scalability. So, if your IoT solutions require continuous check-ups or quick data transmission without specialised expertise, SNMP is the protocol to opt for.
SIM Idle Protection
Teltonika’s networking devices with dual SIM card slots are typically set up to receive network connectivity from mobile connections. So, offering convenient control over it is a no-brainer.
To enhance this, we’ve introduced the SIM Idle Protection package, designed to work in conjunction with the SIM switch function.
The SIM Idle Protection allows mobile routers to periodically switch to the secondary SIM card and establish a connection with a mobile network intermittently. This prevents idleness and your SIM cards from getting blocked, ensuring your IoT solutions maintain uninterrupted connectivity from either SIM cards at all times.
Azure IoT Hub
Azure IoT Hub serves as a central message hub, facilitating communication between IoT applications and connected devices via the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
Azure IoT Hub is used to achieve real-time data collection, remote monitoring, and secure communication between endpoints and the cloud. This makes the Azure IoT Hub package a particularly relevant asset to IoT solutions that specialise in industries like healthcare, supply chain, automation, and smart cities.
The most exciting aspect of this is that the latest RutOS version, version 7.08, has undergone some major upgrades focused on enhancing remote monitoring and control capabilities for your IoT solutions, and you can learn more about it in this article!
TravelMate
TravelMate is a package specifically designed for Teltonika routers to facilitate connections to Wi-Fi hotspots, particularly useful when dealing with captive portals. It enables a mobile router to access the Internet via hotspot and allows subsequent connection sharing with multiple devices on its network.
Only one LAN device needs to handle hotspot authentication, which greatly simplifies access to the Internet across your network infrastructure.
Tailscale VPN
Tailscale VPN was introduced to RutOS in version 7.06 and has since been tremendously successful among our clients.
This protocol is praised for its ease of use in managing networks securely, which is highly relevant to those working in the Enterprise sector.
After the initial download from the Package Manager service, Tailscale VPN requires no specialised expertise in VPNs and only minimal setup to get it running. Most importantly, it’s a highly secure VPN with end-to-end data encryption and a zero-trust security model, ensuring that no unfortunate surprises occur at any given time.
PAM
A handy tool for security enthusiasts, Privileged Access Management (PAM), allows you to connect to a networking device’s WebUI and SSH using RADIUS or TACACS+. This integration enhances the security of your IoT solutions by improving auditing, centralising device access control, and granting device access to authorised users only.
BACnet
The BACnet package has garnered significant interest from our clients because of the way it revolutionises data transmission among different automation devices.
BACnet is an acronym for Building Automation and Control Networks. It’s an M2M communication protocol designed to enable interaction among different IoT devices across distinct networks, regardless of their manufacturer.
Using this protocol, Teltonika’s networking devices can serve as BACnet routers, facilitating communication between multiple networks. They can also operate as BBMDs (BACnet Broadcast Management Devices), which manage the routing of BACnet broadcast messages across different IP subnets.
Additionally, BACnet also reduces operating costs and enhances the safety of connected systems and devices using features, like encryption and device authentication. So, what’s not to love about this protocol, especially when its configuration on RutOS is super easy?
NTRIP
Just like the BACnet protocol, NTRIP has arrived at the RutOS doorsteps with version 7.03, focusing on location services. NTRIP stands for Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol and it enables Teltonika networking devices to relay RTK correction data between an RTK-compatible receiver and the NTRIP server.
This protocol package is relevant for IoT solutions in industries where location precision means everything. Just like in like agriculture, where automation and precision are taking their turn to enhance operational efficiency.
A prime example of this is the Smart Farming with a 5G Router for Farming Tractors use case, in which Teltonika’s RUTM50 5G router is used to provide connectivity for autonomous farming tractors and transmit RTK corrections data between the main controller with built-in RTK receiver and the NTRIP server.
DNP3
DNP3 stands for Distributed Network Protocol 3. It’s a set of communication protocols used between data acquisition and control equipment in process automation systems. Widely employed in IoT solutions, particularly in the utilities sector, DNP3 supports a broad range of data types for convenient data exchange.
Teltonika’s networking devices can act as DNP3 station and outstation entities. With a DNP3 station role, the device is responsible for collecting data, storing it in its memory, and sending it out to cloud servers or other devices based on predefined time intervals. An DNP3 outstation role makes the device give out information about itself, including its status, connections, etc.
With DNP3’s widespread adoption, incorporating it into our RutOS infrastructure is an obvious choice that allows you use what you already know and love.
WANT TO DOWNLOAD PACKAGES?
Before showcasing the path to the Package Manager service, note that the exact number of packages available depends on the networking device you’re using. For example, the number and selection of packages for the RUTM50 5G router may differ from those for the RUT241 mobile router.
Package Manager can be found in the System menu section of RutOS. The main page of Package Manager displays a list of packages, each with a description and an option to install it. You can also search for a specific package by typing its name into the search bar located in the top right corner.
You can download one or multiple packages, depending on the memory capacity of each networking device or your preference. If you install a package and a newer version of it becomes available with the latest RutOS update, you can upgrade the package directly from this page.
A neat feature to note is the ability to install packages offline. You can do this by manually uploading packages by pressing the Upload Package button in the top right corner. Packages specific to each device, such as packages for the RUTX11 mobile router, can be found on Teltonika’s Wiki knowledge base or in the package repository. These can be accessed by clicking on Upload package or View packages repository in the Package Manager window.
Additionally, you can restore packages. This will ensure that all packages installed on each Teltonika device in your IoT solutions are re-downloaded after each firmware upgrade while retaining all previous settings.
BECOME THE PACKAGE EXPERT
You can find even more information about Package Manager in Teltonika’s Wiki knowledge base, including configuration examples for a wide range of networking devices and packages. So, suit up and enhance your devices with the best packages available!
