Iot-LINK Nodes: Our Node-RED library

A Strategic Partnership for IoT Innovation

Our long-standing collaboration with Compulab, an international leader in the design and manufacture of embedded hardware solutions, has reached an important milestone with the development of the official Node-RED library for their new IoT-LINK gateway.

From technological collaboration to shared value creation: this partnership has generated results that go beyond a single project. The integration of Compulab’s hardware expertise with our software know-how has led to the creation of RED-LINK, a complete and ready-to-deploy industrial IoT solution. RED-LINK combines Compulab’s IoT-LINK gateway, a plug-and-play sensor kit, the Node-RED library we developed, and our AIkNodeCloud platform for real-time monitoring, offering the market an immediately operational end-to-end solution.

This project represents the natural evolution of a consolidated partnership, where our expertise in developing IoT solutions integrates with Compulab’s hardware excellence to offer the market cutting-edge tools in the Industrial IoT sector.

The Project Context

Compulab entrusted us with the development of a proprietary library Node-REDfor their latest generation IoT-LINK gateway, with the aim of providing system integrators and developers with a professional tool that drastically simplifies the implementation of complex IoT solutions.

Our expertise in development onNode-RED has enabled us to transform the gateway’s advanced technical specifications into a set of intuitive visual tools, while maintaining full access to the device’s enterprise features.

The Solution Developed

The library we designed and implemented comprises 15 specialised nodes that significantly extend the native capabilities ofNode-RED. This suite of components allows complete and unified control of IoT-LINK gateways, eliminating the need to switch between different management interfaces or have in-depth knowledge of console commands, consolidating the entire system control into a single visual platform.

The library architecture covers the entire operational spectrum of the gateway:

Industrial protocols (CAN bus) for integration with legacy systems
Multi-channel connectivity (cellular, Ethernet) to ensure redundancy and reliability
Precision hardware control (digital I/O, LEDs) for real-time applications
Advanced system monitoring (CPU, memory, system logs, network diagnostics)
Native integration with the AIkNodeCloud platform for cloud-ready solutions

Each component has been designed with the aim of ensuring optimal performance and total compatibility with the existing Node-RED ecosystem.

Nodes overview

AIkNodeCloud

Node that securely connects Node-RED flows to the AIkNodeCloud platform.

Funzionalità: Receives payloads of any type, formats them for display in the cloud, and supports device identification and real-time monitoring.

CAN bus in

Configurable node for receiving CAN bus messages with customisable settings and advanced monitoring functions.

Funzionalità: Permette la scelta dell’interfaccia CAN, la selezione del baud rate (da 125k a 1M) e l’attivazione della modalità loopback tramite nodo di configurazione dedicato.

CAN bus out

Complementary node to CAN bus for sending messages through configured CAN interfaces.

Funzionalità: Offers the same configuration options as the CAN interface, with control over baud rate and loopback via a dedicated configuration node.

Cellular

Advanced 4G cellular connection manager with comprehensive configuration and monitoring options.

Funzionalità: Provides real-time information on signal quality and the ability to manage APN and SIM PIN settings.

CpuMonitor

Node for monitoring system performance with configurable polling and detailed statistics.

Funzionalità: Collect statistics for each core, including users, system, and idle percentage.

DigitalInput

Versatile node for managing digital inputs, with status monitoring and edge detection.

Funzionalità: Supports monitoring of one or more pins, with configurable polling and real-time detection of status changes.

DigitalOutput

Control node for the gateway’s digital outputs.

Funzionalità: Permette di impostare gestire i “pulse” e la loro durata, settare lo stato alto/basso

Ethernet

Node for managing Ethernet network interfaces, with complete configuration of the various related settings.

Funzionalità: Supports both manual and automatic IP configurations, with DNS, gateway and subnet mask management.

LedControl

Advanced node for controlling system LEDs, with support for custom patterns and heartbeat mode.

Funzionalità: Allows individual control of LEDs and the definition of customised lighting sequences.

LedStatus

LED status monitoring node, useful for checking specific patterns and operating conditions.

Funzionalità: Allows reading of the current status and checking of specific patterns, including cases with heartbeat mode.

MemoryMonitor

Node for analysing system memory and storage space (RAM and disk).

Funzionalità: Provides detailed information on memory usage, free space, and cache data.

NetworkDiagnostic

Network diagnostics node, with integrated connectivity testing tools.

FunzionalitàIncludes configurable commands such as ping, traceroute, and DNS lookup, with detailed reports.

RtcManager

Node for managing and synchronising the Real Time Clock (RTC).

Funzionalità: Allows synchronisation between the system clock and hardware clock, as well as manual time adjustment.

SystemLogs

Node for analysing and reading system logs with advanced filtering functions.

Funzionalità: Allows filtering between kernel and process logs, with options for timestamp formatting.

TimezoneManager

Node for complete management of time zones and time synchronisation via network.

Funzionalità: Supports time zone configuration, NTP server management, and automatic time synchronisation.

Modbus Protocol Integration: A Strategic Approach

Compulab’s IoT-LINK gateways natively integrate RS485 ports, which are critical interfaces for communicating with industrial devices via the Modbus protocol. Implementing this functionality in the Node-RED environment was a fundamental requirement for ensuring the gateway’s full operability in Industrial IoT contexts.

Analisi Tecnica e Decisione Architetturale

Our analysis of the ecosystemNode-REDhighlighted the existence of mature solutions that have been widely validated by the community for managing Modbus communications on RS485. In particular, the node-red-contrib-modbuslibrary stood out for:

Enterprise reliability: over 50,000 weekly downloads and continuous maintenance by the community
Functional completeness: native support for Modbus RTU, Modbus ASCII and Modbus TCP
Compliance with standards: full adherence to Modbus protocol specifications

We have therefore adopted a strategy of intelligent integration rather than redundant development. This decision reflects our design philosophy: to leverage existing excellence in the open source ecosystem, focusing development resources on the proprietary and differentiating features of the IoT-LINK gateway.

Implementation and Added Value

The architecture of our solution provides for the transparent integration of the Modbus library as a managed dependency. During the installation of our package, the system automatically configures the entire communication stack, guaranteeing users a plug-and-play experience without the need for additional manual configurations.

This design choice offers multiple advantages:

Guaranteed interoperability with the existing Node-RED ecosystem
Optimised maintenance through leveraging community updates
Accelerated time-to-market for customer implementations
Extended compatibility with any Modbus-compliant device

The seamless integration between our proprietary nodes and Modbus capabilities creates a unified environment that maintains consistency in the user experience, allowing developers to orchestrate complex industrial IoT architectures through a single visual interface.

Architecture and standards

Project structure

The structure of our project follows almost entirely the standards of npm packages:

├── doc
├── examples
├── lib
├── locales
├── setup-scripts
├── systemd-services
├── setup.js
├── cleanup.js
├── README.md
├── package.json
├── examples
└── nodes

In addition to standard files such as package.json and README.md, we have added:

doc: directory containing detailed documentation for each node
setup-scripts and systemd-services: post-installation/uninstallation scripts and services
nodes : directory contenente il codice sorgente dei vari nodi

Integration in Node-RED: Installation

Integration into Node-RED is almost immediate. Simply open the Palette Manager from the top right menu (Manage Palette), select the Install tab and search for the library using the search bar.

After installation, it is recommended that you restart Node-RED.

When you reopen, the library will be visible in the palette on the left and ready to use. The node-red-contrib-modbus will also be installed automatically as a dependency.

As shown, the two libraries modbus and IoT-LINK will be immediately available for use in your flow.

Integration in Node-RED: Demonstration flow

To show the entire library in action, we have developed a simple demonstration flow, available in the npm catalogue.

Flow Execution and Verification

Activating Flows

To test the system’s operation, simply run the three configured flows manually.

Execution Results

After activation, you may observe:

Status updates: Nodes display the updated and active status.
Clear and readable debugging: Debug messages are visible in the side panel.
Active Cloud nodes: The nodes AIkNode Cloud remain constantly listening, according to the settings defined in the interface.

Verification and Monitoring on AIkNodeCloud

Quick Access to the Platform

To verify that data is being transmitted correctly to AIkNodeCloud, access the platform using the token configured in your flow’s cloud nodes.

Important: Use the same token for all nodes (Flow 1 to cloud, Flow 2 to cloud, Can flow to cloud) to ensure correct data aggregation.

Dashboard Real-Time

Once connected, the platform immediately offers:

Live streaming of data from IoT-LINK gateways
Intelligent analytics to transform raw data into actionable insights
Custom visualisations with configurable charts and widgets for each specific use case

Native integration with AIkNodeCloud completes the edge-to-cloud cycle, allowing you to move from data collection to operational intelligence in just a few clicks.

Conclusions: Excellence in IoT Integration

A Benchmark in the Industry

The completion of the official IoT-LINK library for Compulab represents an interesting case study in our ability to develop enterprise solutions for Industrial IoT. This project concretely demonstrates how, at AIknow, we transform complex hardware requirements into elegant, high-performance software solutions, consolidating our position as a leading technology partner for international companies.

Consolidated Technical Skills

Through this implementation, we have further strengthened our portfolio of specialist skills:

Node-RED Enterprise architectures: development of professional libraries with over 15 custom components, implementation of scalable and maintainable architectural patterns, distribution and versioning through private and public npm registries.
Industrial Protocols and Standards: native CAN bus integration for automotive and industrial applications, full Modbus stack implementation (RTU/ASCII/TCP), multi-protocol communications management in mission-critical environments
Cloud-Native IoT Platforms: designing resilient edge-to-cloud architectures, implementing high-performance real-time telemetry systems, orchestrating fleet management for distributed devices

Our Value for Your Business

AIknow stands out for its ability to translate technical complexity into concrete competitive advantages. Our offering for industrial IoT projects includes:

Strategic Consulting and Design

Technological assessment and definition of the optimal architecture
Selection of the most suitable technologies and protocols for the specific context
Implementation roadmap with clear milestones and success metrics

Development and System Integration

Development of custom software components for Node-RED ecosystems
Seamless integration with existing IT/OT infrastructures
Validation and certification according to industry standards

Support and Evolution Management

Proactive maintenance and continuous updates
Horizontal scaling for device fleet growth
Technical training and knowledge transfer to internal teams

Partners for Innovation

Our collaboration with Compulab demonstrates AIknow’s ability to act as an Innovation Enabler for companies that need specialist expertise in industrial IoT. Whether your goal is to optimise production processes, implement predictive maintenance or create new data-driven business models, we have the expertise and experience to guide you to success.

Let’s start building the future of your IoT infrastructure

Contact us to explore how our expertise can accelerate your digital transformation. Our team of specialised architects and developers is ready to turn your technological challenges into opportunities for growth.