In this exercise, you will learn how to use Node-RED to build and POST sensor data to Maximo meters using REST APIs. The reason you are learning this alternative method is because it is sometimes useful for demos in which case you need to show real-time responses to changes in sensor data. NOTE: Be cautious about the volume of data you’re sending to Maximo. Again, the Maximo database was not designed to handle high traffic.
If you do not have an instance of Node-RED available, create one directly using the following button:
Note: This repository will create an instance of Node-RED with the following nodes:
If you already have an instance, skip to step 10.
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Clicking the button above will take you to the IBM Cloud deployment configuration page to help you create your new Node-RED instance. You may be asked to sign in to your IBM Cloud account.
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Verify that the Region and the Organization are set to where you want your instance deployed. Click on the Delivery Pipeline tab and click on the New button:
- Click the OK button on the Create a new API key with full access window.
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Verify that the Region, Organization, and Space are set to where you want your new instance deployed. Click the Create button on the top right corner of the screen.
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Your new Node-RED instance is now being created. The page you are viewing is your Node-RED instance’s deployment overview Toolchain. Click on the Deliver task to monitor the progress of your deployment:
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Your app is ready when the Build and Deploy stages are successfully executed:
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Once both stages are successful, navigate back to your deployment Toolchain overview page using the breadcrumbs on the top left part of the page
- Your Delivery Pipeline will now also indicate that the task was successfully executed.
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Now that your Node-RED instance is ready, click on the Visit App URL on the top right section of your screen. Follow the wizard to secure your application. (Skip to step 14)
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From your Node-RED instance, click on the menu at the top right-hand corner, select Manage Palette. Click the Install tab and search throttle. Install the node-red-contrib-throttle node as shown in the image below:
- Repeat step 9 for the node-red-contrib-scx-ibmiotapp node.
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Copy the contents of the IoT Platform to Maximo JSON file file.
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Navigate to your Node-RED application and click on the menu button on the top right-hand corner. Select Import and on the Clipboard tab, paste the json object you copied in the previous step. Finally, click the import button. You should see 3 tabs, as shown below:
- Create a new tab by clicking the + sign on the top right-hand corner and call the tab Maximo Meter REST API:
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Copy the flow from the Maximo METER API (Ref) tab and paste the flows into the Maximo Meter REST API tab.
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Open the IoT PLATFORM node and click the Pencil Icon as shown below:
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Enter the credentials to your instance of the IoT Platform that you used in Exercise 4-1 of the lab, Step4. NOTE: URL is <org-id>.messaging.internetofthings.ibmcloud.com
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Click the Update button. Click the checkbox next to the Device ID label to edit the Device ID field, enter the name of the device (ex. DBNT). Leave the checkbox unchecked.
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Click Done and then Deploy the Node-RED flow. The IoT PLATFORM node should now say connected. If not, check the credentials or notify the lab instructor.
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Open the Build METER REST API URL node. Follow the instructions outlined in the node and replace the appropriate variables. For your convenience, all of the configurable variables have been placed at the beginning of the node.
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Repeat Step 8 for the Evaluate METER & Build REST API URL.
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Copy and paste every node after the IoT Platform node and repeat Steps 8 & 9 for any additional meters. The Node-RED flow should look similar to the one shown on the following page. NOTE: Turn on the Debug nodes and confirm that values are being posted to Maximo (400 = Successful. 200 = Failed).
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You are now finished with Exercise 4-2. You’ve successfully posted sensor readings to Maximo in the form of meters. If you haven’t already noticed, the throttle node is meant to simulate normal operating data at the desired rate. The Evaluate METER node is meant to send only data points that exceed the thresholds. In the following exercise, you will view your sensors readings in the HEALTH UI from the perspective of the Reliability Engineer. Exercise– Using HEALTH
