Just released! A major new tool for your Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) project: the groov Box with Node-RED built in.

What is Node-RED?

It's an open-source, cross-platform tool for wiring together hardware devices, databases, cloud services, and APIs (application program interfaces) with simple logic flows.

It's a fast-track way to start achieving your IIoT goals with little or no programming. Or if you're not quite ready for the IIoT, Node-RED makes it simple to share data with databases or other software applications.

Node-RED offers hundreds of free, pre-built nodes from hardware manufacturers and software developers. Just a few: MySQL databases, online weather services, and Opto 22 SNAP PAC controllers.

Why is it in the groov Box?

Node-RED in the groov Box means you now have an industrially hardened platform to run your Node-RED flows on, plus you'll save the time and effort normally required to install and configure Node-RED on a computer or embedded device. All you have to do is securely log in and start building a flow. Steps for getting started are in Chapter 4 of the groov Box User's Guide for GROOV-AR1.

Add that convenience to the super-easy way groov lets you create and use mobile operator interfaces to virtually any system or equipment, and you've gone a long way toward 21st Century monitoring and control.  

Of course the two Opto 22 SNAP PAC Node-RED nodes are included. Thanks to the new RESTful API in SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers, these nodes provide access to I/O point and variable data in SNAP PACs.

We've also included our web-based Node-RED Admin utility, which provides secure, authenticated access to your Node-RED flows, backup and restoration, a resources dashboard, and a way to administer security certificates for your SNAP PAC controllers.

How do I get it?

If you already have a GROOV-AR1 groov Box appliance with a current license, just log into manage.groov.com and download and install the new groov Admin R1.570.45. Node-RED is included in the new release. 

Note that Node-RED is available only for the GROOV-AR1, not for the older GROOV-AT1 box and not for groov Server for Windows. (If you have groov Server, you can get Node-RED from nodered.org and run it on your Windows PC.)

If you don't have a groov Box yet, take a look at its specs and capabilities.