Send Telemetry to Edge via MQTT

Send sensor readings from a Python script to ThingsBoard Edge over MQTT using the paho-mqtt client. Devices connect directly to the Edge instance — use the hostname or IP address of your Edge instance in place of the ThingsBoard Server URL.

• Python 3.7+
• A device provisioned on your Edge instance with an Access Token — see Manage Devices on Edge

1. Install paho-mqtt:

   pip install paho-mqtt

2. Copy your device’s Access Token from Entities → Devices → [device] → Copy access token on the Edge instance.

import paho.mqtt.client as mqtt
import json
import time

EDGE_HOST = "192.168.1.100"   # replace with your Edge host
ACCESS_TOKEN = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"

client = mqtt.Client(mqtt.CallbackAPIVersion.VERSION1)
client.username_pw_set(ACCESS_TOKEN)
client.connect(EDGE_HOST, 1883, 60)
client.loop_start()

try:
    while True:
        payload = json.dumps({"temperature": 22.5, "humidity": 60})
        client.publish("v1/devices/me/telemetry", payload, qos=1)
        print(f"Sent: {payload}")
        time.sleep(5)
finally:
    client.loop_stop()
    client.disconnect()

The script publishes a JSON telemetry payload every 5 seconds. Edge stores readings locally and forwards them to the ThingsBoard Server through the root rule chain when a cloud connection is available.

1. Log in to the Edge instance and go to Entities → Devices.
2. Open the device and click the Latest telemetry tab.
3. Confirm that temperature and humidity values appear.

For the full list of MQTT topics and payload formats, see MQTT API.