Raspberry Pi are often the gateway device for developers first getting into tinkering with an IoT project. These single-board computers are relatively inexpensive, easy to get started with, and compatible with a variety of different sensors. By Andrew Black.
Looking at a Raspberry Pi from this perspective, it seems like an excellent option for a small IoT deployment. Yet there are some clear challenges that emerge when hoping to utilize the device at a larger scale:
- Raspberry Pi requires a basic OS to be installed on each individual device, and loading this OS onto a fleet of thousands of devices can be a tedious task
- It must be acknowledged that the Raspberry Pi is perhaps overpowered for very basic tasks
- Raspberry PI are built with the intention of being “hacked.”. There are some security concerns that make a Raspberry Pi vulnerable
- Complication of connectivity. RPi have ethernet ports for a hardwired connection and support WiFi, but what if the device is positioned in a location where there is no access to either?
Ultimately when it boils down to scalability for an IoT deployment, what you need is the ability to roll out your devices as quickly and securely as possible in a reproducible format. On a small scale of 10 devices or less, it is very feasible that a Raspberry Pi rollout could be an affordable option. However, in a large or enterprise-level rollout, there are enough logistical challenges to make the RPI an impractical option. Interesting read!
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