Microsoft’s Azure Stream Analytics allows users to manage and analyze events in real-time, performing millions of calculations per second. This combines well with Azure IoT Hub, a service that enables secure bi-directional communication between Internet of Things devices.
However, customers have been unable to monitor the status of operations in the IoT hub in real-time, and that’s what Microsoft has delivered on today.
Azure Steam Analytics Support
Through the IoT Operation Monitoring endpoint, users can now track and monitor events in real time. The functionality extends to five categories of events:
- Device identity operations
- Device telemetry
- Cloud-to-device commands
- Connections
- File uploads
You can choose one or more categories to send events to the IoT endpoint. This can then be monitored for errors, and processed depending on data patterns and other metrics.
Disconnects in Near Real-time and Next Steps
This functionality also solves another common feedback point, the ability to know if an IoT device disconnects quickly. Using Stream Analytics, you can set up emails or alerts as soon as it happens so any problems can be addressed quickly.
I’m far from an expert, but Azure Stream Analytics Program Manager Ryan CrawCour is, and has a tutorial on the Azure blog.
It essentially involves going to the “Connections” header of IoT Hub Operations Monitoring and hitting the verbose button. From there you enter your Even Hub-compatible name and endpoint, and it will start capturing connection data.
You then create a stream analytics job, select some options in the drop down, and create a query. After that, you’re pretty much done. The output can be redirected to the Service Bus Queue, where an Azure Function can run as soon as the message goes through.
It’s a lot easier than previous methods, and should save a lot of time. However, the functionality is still in progress, so Microsoft is encouraging users to use the User Voice page. They’re also offering support via MSDN, StackOverflow and email.
