Understanding data flow and entity synchronization

In this step, you will learn how telemetry flows from Edge to your ThingsBoard account, how entities created on Edge are synchronized to the server, and how to assign server-side entities to an Edge instance.

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The Edge Root Rule Chain controls how Edge processes and forwards data locally. It includes a push to cloud node that sends telemetry and attributes to your ThingsBoard account after they are saved in the local Edge database.

To see it:

1. In the Edge UI, go to Data processing > Rule chains.

2. Open the Edge Root Rule Chain. The Post telemetry and Post attributes messages go first to the nodes that save the data locally, and then to the push to cloud node, which forwards them to the server.

If the Edge is offline, the messages wait in a local queue and are pushed when the connection is restored.

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Entities created on an Edge instance, like devices, assets, and dashboards, are synchronized to your ThingsBoard account automatically.

To verify:

1. In your ThingsBoard account, go to Devices & assets > Devices. The devices you created on Edge appear here.

2. Open the device and go to the Relations tab. Switch the direction from From to To. The list shows the ManagedByEdge relation from your Edge instance.

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You can assign entities created in your ThingsBoard account, like dashboards, devices, or rule chains, to an Edge instance. Once assigned, they synchronize to Edge automatically. The steps below use a dashboard as an example.

1. In your ThingsBoard account, go to Monitor > Dashboards and create a new dashboard. Once configured and saved, click the Dashboard details icon (pencil) to open it.
2. Click Manage owner and groups.
3. In the pop-up window, in the Groups field, enter a group name and click Create a new one! in the dropdown menu.
4. Click Add, then click Update. The new group appears in the Groups column of the dashboard.
5. Go to Edge management > Edges and click your Edge. On the Details tab, click Manage dashboard groups.
6. Click Assign to edge (+), select the new group, and click Assign.
7. Open the Edge UI (http://localhost:8080) and go to Monitor > Dashboards. The assigned dashboard is available on Edge with the same widgets and configuration.

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