IoTDB Introduction

Apache IoTDB is a low-cost, high-performance IoT-native time-series database. It addresses challenges faced by enterprises in managing time-series data for IoT big data platforms, including complex application scenarios, massive data volumes, high sampling frequencies, frequent out-of-order data, time-consuming data processing, diverse analytical requirements, and high storage and maintenance costs.

1. Product Ecosystem

The IoTDB ecosystem consists of multiple components designed to efficiently manage and analyze massive IoT-generated time-series data.

Key components include:

  1. Time-Series Database (Apache IoTDB): The core component for time-series data storage, offering high compression, rich query capabilities, real-time stream processing, high availability, and scalability. It provides security guarantees, configuration tools, multi-language APIs, and integration with external systems for building business applications.
  2. Time-Series File Format (Apache TsFile): A specialized storage format for time-series data, enabling efficient storage and querying. TsFile underpins IoTDB and AINode, unifying data management across collection, storage, and analysis phases.
  3. Time-Series Model Training-Inference Engine (IoTDB AINode): A unified engine for intelligent analysis, supporting model training, data management, and integration with machine/deep learning frameworks.

2. TimechoDB Architecture

The diagram below illustrates a typical IoTDB cluster deployment (3 ConfigNodes and 3 DataNodes):

3. Key Features

Apache IoTDB offers the following advantages:

  • Flexible Deployment:

    • One-click cloud deployment
    • Out-of-the-box terminal usage
    • Seamless terminal-cloud synchronization

  • Cost-Effective Storage:

    • High-compression disk storage
    • Unified management of historical and real-time data

  • Hierarchical Measurement Point Management:

    • Aligns with industrial device hierarchies
    • Supports directory browsing and search

  • High Throughput Read/Write:

    • Supports millions of devices
    • Handles high-speed, out-of-order, and multi-frequency data ingestion

  • Rich Query Capabilities:

    • Native time-series computation engine
    • Timestamp alignment during queries
    • Over 100 built-in aggregation and time-series functions
    • AI-ready time-series feature analysis

  • High Availability & Scalability:

    • HA distributed architecture with 24/7 uptime
    • Automatic load balancing for node scaling
    • Heterogeneous cluster support

  • Low Learning Curve:

    • SQL-like query language
    • Multi-language SDKs
    • Comprehensive toolchain (e.g., console)

  • Ecosystem Integration:

    • Hadoop, Spark, Grafana, ThingsBoard, DataEase, etc.

4. TimechoDB

Timecho Technology has developed TimechoDB, a commercial product built on the open-source version of Apache IoTDB, to provide enterprise-grade solutions and services for businesses and commercial clients. TimechoDB addresses the multifaceted challenges enterprises face when building IoT big data platforms for managing time-series data, including complex application scenarios, massive data volumes, high sampling frequencies, frequent out-of-order data, time-consuming data processing, diverse analytical requirements, and high storage and maintenance costs.

Leveraging TimechoDB, Timecho Technology offers a broader range of product features, enhanced performance and stability, and a richer suite of efficiency tools. Additionally, it provides comprehensive enterprise services, delivering commercial clients with superior product capabilities and an optimized experience in development, operation, and usage.