![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jaerder.videmogroup.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/casaMonit_proto-665x1024.jpg\")
So I was faced with a decision regarding the server side of the system:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fully development of a frontend and backend , using a LAMP stack and bootstrap templates. This would take time that I simply don’t have, and the project would probably still be stalled.<\/li>\n
- Or find a solution that would require less effort. And this was only an option when I was introduced to Elasticsearch + kibana stack.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
On the hardware side, I had some ESP8622 (ESP-12) modules to try out.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jaerder.videmogroup.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/casaMonit_esp12_proto-1024x681.jpg\")
ESP8622 Sensor Module prototype with a DS18B20 temperature sensor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Current Status<\/h1>\n
Server Side changes<\/h2>\n
The server side of the Monitoring system was the one that was the most time consuming.<\/p>\n
One of the major changes was the replacement of the LAMP stack for elasticsearch and kibana for data storage and\u00a0 visualization respectively. This removed the need to write a backend and a frontend from scratch. The time that would be spent on writing the back and front ends was spent on the sensor module development (both hardware and software).<\/p>\n
Elasticsearch, according to the authors:<\/p>\n
”\u00a0Elasticsearch\u00a0is an open source distributed, RESTful search and analytics engine capable of solving a growing number of use cases.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
With elasticsearch, the sensor modules sends\u00a0data in json , instead of sending the data via http get to a php script with the previous Monit System architecture.
\nAnd a dashboard with visualizations of the data can be done in minutes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jaerder.videmogroup.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/kibana_dashboard-1024x576.png\")
KIbana Dashboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Hardware changes<\/h2>\n
Although the arduino + enc28J60 sensor module was not entirely abandoned, hardware development focus was oriented on the ESP8622 based modules.<\/p>\n
The ESP8622 have some interesting advantages over the arduino + ENC28J60 combination :<\/p>\n
- \n
- The ESP8622 can be sourced from around\u00a0 1,7 \u20ac a piece (ESP-12) (and it replaces the arduino board and the ENC28J60 in one package)<\/li>\n
- It can be used with the Arduino IDE<\/a>\u00a0, and use most of its libraries (no need to learn a new SDK and new tools).<\/li>\n
- No additional network hardware required, since the ESP module is a wifi module first and foremost (DHCP, WPA2 supported out of the box), and thus I could place the sensor module anywhere as long as there is wifi coverage, including the exterior of the house.<\/li>\n
- Less parts per module, since the ESP8622 has an ARM CPU besides the WiFi capabilities : besides the module itself, only the sensor, a RTC (if needed) and some passive components are needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
However the usage of the bare modules are not as “plug and play” as with arduino boards – additional hardware and wiring required . This is not an issue since the final goal is to have a custom made PCB for the sensor module.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The quest for a Home Monitoring System : Part 2 Changes to the Home Monitoring System Architecture Almost a year later, and a working prototype, the development of the monitoring system had reached a standstill, mostly due to the lack of time : On the sensor side , the Arduino + ENC28J60 + DS18B20 combo … <\/p>\n