Network Server

In previous installments of this series, we have discussed LoRaWAN technology and Nodes and Gateways. In this last installment of this series, we will talk about Network Servers, the managers of LoRaWAN networks.

Let’s start by clarifying what a Network Server is and what its function is. By definition, it is a software tool that connects sensors and gateways with higher-level applications, ensuring the security and reliability of data throughout the communication chain.

In summary, a Network Server must carry out:

• The management of devices and gateways, registering all equipment in a centralized manner, coordinating usage frequencies, and making payload messages available to higher-level applications.
• Network control and supervision, coordinating duplicate messages, selecting the best Gateway for each node, applying the ADR (Adaptive Data Rate), or detecting undelivered messages.
• LoRaWAN is a technology that has different levels of security, not only at the AES128 message encryption level, but also integrating the management of security keys between devices, gateways, and applications.

All LoRaWAN networks need a Network Server. However, there are NS of different scopes. To do this, we must take into account that there are small LoRaWAN networks – with only dozens of nodes and a single Gateway that provides coverage – but we can also set up large networks – where there are several gateways and hundreds of nodes deployed -.

As there are different cases and needs, there are different Network Servers. In summary, they could be classified into these three categories:

I Network Server Embedded in the Gateway.

They are the most common option for small networks where only one Gateway is needed. These are usually projects where there are at most a few hundred nodes separated by a few hundred meters around a single outdoor Gateway or tens of meters indoors. They are the cheapest option but the one with the most limitations.

If a second Gateway is required, that second network will be completely independent of the first. There will be no possibility of integration between them. This implies that the nodes must be registered twice, the messages will be duplicated, their frequencies may overlap, or there will be no access to advanced functionalities such as equipment positioning.

I Vertical Network Servers.

Another option found on the market are the NS that are linked to the gateways of the same brand. Their functionalities as a Network Server depend on the manufacturer and model. Normally, the great advantage of this type of complete or vertical solution is the ease of integration of all the components since they are from the same manufacturer. However, these solutions are usually closed to other gateways from other manufacturers, so the user loses alternatives when choosing the components.

I Multi-brand Network Servers.

Finally, we find the NS that are capable of integrating with any Gateway or with most of them. They are usually the most used NS in the market and the ones with the most references. Of the three options, it is usually the most expensive, but also the one with the most potential and the one that best guarantees the service and the scaling of the system. The great advantage of this type of solution is that the network can be coordinated from a single point, that is, from the user’s point of view, even if multiple GWs from different manufacturers are deployed, the network is unique. In short, the supervision of the network and its integral management are centralized.

With this chapter we finish the series “Getting Started with LoRaWAN”, if you have any questions or want to know more about our portfolio of equipment or our Network Server, do not hesitate to contact us!