Mastering IoT with ThingsBoard: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cloud Deployment on AWS EC2

In the rapidly evolving world of IoT, ThingsBoard has emerged as a powerful open-source platform for managing, monitoring, and visualizing IoT devices and data. deploying ThingsBoard on AWS EC2 enables organizations to scale their IoT projects effortlessly while benefiting from enhanced security, flexibility, and performance. This step-by-step guide will help you set up ThingsBoard over the cloud, enabling you to create a comprehensive IoT solution.

This step-by-step guide will help you set up ThingsBoard over the cloud, enabling you to create a comprehensive IoT solution. 

What is ThingsBoard? 

ThingsBoard is a scalable and open-source IoT platform that enables real-time data collection, processing, and visualization from IoT devices. Deploying ThingsBoard on AWS EC2 allows for easy integration with various devices and systems while offering flexibility to scale as your IoT project grows.

Step 1: Selecting the Cloud Infrastructure 

The first step in deploying ThingsBoard on AWS EC2 is choosing your cloud provider. ThingsBoard can be deployed over popular cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. For this guide, we will focus on AWS EC2.

Steps: 

• Sign up for an AWS account if you don’t have one. 

• Go to the AWS Management Console and launch an EC2 instance with your desired configurations. 

• Select an appropriate instance type based on your project requirements (e.g., t3.medium for small-scale projects or m5.large for more robust setups). 

Step 2: Install ThingsBoard on EC2 

Now that you have your EC2 instance running, it’s time to install ThingsBoard. 

Steps: 

• SSH into your EC2 instance. 

• Update your package manager: 

Code-
sudo apt-get update

• Install ThingsBoard using Docker: 

Code-
docker run -it -p 9090:9090 thingsboard/tb-postgre

• Configure ThingsBoard to connect to PostgreSQL for data persistence. 

Step 3: Configure PostgreSQL for Data Storage 

ThingsBoard requires a database to store device data. PostgreSQL is one of the recommended databases, and AWS RDS is an ideal choice to ensure scalable, managed, and secure database services. 

Steps: 

• Launch a PostgreSQL instance on AWS RDS. 

• Configure the security group to allow your EC2 instance to access the database. 

• Edit the ThingsBoard configuration file to connect to the PostgreSQL instance. 

Step 4: Set Up Devices and Connectivity 

ThingsBoard simplifies device connectivity when deployed on AWS EC2. Use MQTT, HTTP, or CoAP protocols to connect devices and start streaming telemetry data.

Steps: 

• Log into the ThingsBoard web interface (usually accessible at http://<EC2_IP>:8080). 

• Create a new device in the Devices section and generate credentials (such as access tokens or MQTT credentials). 

• Configure your physical IoT devices or virtual sensors to send telemetry data to ThingsBoard using the appropriate protocol. 

Reference: ThingsBoard Devices Documentation 

Step 5: Visualizing Data Using Dashboards 

ThingsBoard’s most powerful feature is its ability to create visually appealing, interactive dashboards for real-time data monitoring and analytics. 

Steps: 

• Go to the Dashboards section in the ThingsBoard web interface. 

• Create a new dashboard and add widgets like line charts, gauges, and maps to visualize sensor data. 

• You can customize the widgets to display real-time data, historical trends, and alerts. 

Reference: ThingsBoard Dashboard Documentation 

Step 6: Setting Up Rule Chains and Alerts 

ThingsBoard allows you to create Rule Chains for event-driven processing of incoming data. You can automate actions like sending notifications or triggering alarms when sensor data exceeds predefined thresholds. 

Steps: 

• Go to the Rule Chains section. 

• Define conditions based on the incoming telemetry (e.g., temperature > 50°C) and set actions (e.g., send an SMS alert). 

• You can integrate AWS SNS or Twilio to send notifications to mobile devices or emails. 

Step 7: Scaling and Monitoring 

Scaling is critical for IoT projects. By deploying ThingsBoard on AWS EC2, you can leverage AWS Auto Scaling and CloudWatch to dynamically manage workloads as your project grows.

Steps: 

• Use AWS CloudWatch to monitor the performance of your EC2 instance and RDS database. 

• Set up auto-scaling rules to dynamically add more resources as the demand increases. 

Step 8: Ensuring Security 

Securing your IoT deployment is a priority. After deploying ThingsBoard on AWS EC2, use HTTPS and AWS IAM for robust security measures to protect your system and data.

Steps: 

• Enable HTTPS on ThingsBoard to ensure secure communication. 

• Use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control access to your EC2 and RDS resources. 

• Implement encryption for sensitive data stored in PostgreSQL. 

Conclusion 

Deploying ThingsBoard on AWS EC2 is an excellent choice for building scalable and secure IoT solutions. With real-time dashboards, flexible device management, and advanced rule chains, ThingsBoard simplifies large-scale IoT deployments. Leveraging AWS ensures your system is robust, scalable, and easy to maintain.

Deepak Makraiya

Technical Lead – IoT

As a Technical Lead – IoT with over 8.3 years of experience, Deepak Makraiya specializes in Industrial Automation, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Cloud Computing, and AIoT.His expertise lies in designing and implementing cutting-edge IoT solutions, driving digital transformation for industries. With a strong focus on scalable cloud architectures and AI-powered IoT ecosystems, Deepak is passionate about leveraging technology to optimize processes, enhance productivity, and unlock business value in the industrial sector.