# Connect a Device
{% hint style="info" %}
If you do not have a physical device at hand, you can use the [Device Simulator](/akenza.io/get-started/create-new-device/device-simulator.md).
{% endhint %}
### **1. Create a Data Flow**
Data Flows define how device data is processed and stored in akenza.
#### 1.1. Device Connector
To create a **Data Flow**, select *Create Data Flow* on the menu tab *Data Flow*. Select the Device Connector of your choice. The following Device Connectors are available:
* [LoRaWAN](https://docs.akenza.io/get-started/your-integration/swisscom-cmp-lpn)
* [HTTP](https://docs.akenza.io/api-reference/http.)
* [MQTT](https://docs.akenza.io/api-reference/mqtt)
* [CoAP](https://docs.akenza.io/api-reference/coap)
* [Sigfox](/akenza.io/deprecated/sigfox.md)
* [Disruptive Technologies](/akenza.io/tutorials/add-devices/how-to-integrate-disruptive-technologies-on-akenza.md)
* [Yanzi](/akenza.io/deprecated/how-to-connect-the-yanzi-lifecycle-cloud-on-akenza.md)
#### **1.2. Device Type**
Choose your Device Type to extract, transform and normalize the data sent from the device. Akenza provides an extensive [device type library](https://akenza.io/features/device-type-library) with 100+ ready-to-use device types from different manufacturers around the globe.
If you do not find a suitable Device Type, you can create a [Custom Device Type](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/device-type/device-type.md) for your device.
Select *Passthrough i*f no data parsing is required. The payload will be forwarded without changes.
#### **1.3. Output Connector**
Choose one or multiple **Output Connectors** for your Data Flow. Output Connectors define the data destination of your Data Flow. The following options are available to process your data to:
**Data sinks:**
* [akenza DB](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/databases/akenza-db.md)
* [Webhook](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/webhook.md)
* [Azure IoT Hub](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/azure-iot-hub.md)
* [Google Pub/Sub](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/google-cloud-pub-sub.md)
* [InfluxDB](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/databases/influxdb.md)
* [AWS Kinesis](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/aws-kinesis.md)
* [Apache Kafka](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/apache-kafka.md)
**Notification services:**
* [E-Mail](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/email.md)
* [SMS](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/sms.md)
* [Microsoft Teams](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/microsoft-teams.md)
* [Slack](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/slack.md)
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The **akenza DB** Output Connector ensures, that all data passing through this Data Flow are saved and thereby become accessible.
{% endhint %}
Learn more about Data Flows:
{% content-ref url="/pages/-MO5Hket2gfliIgl-ZTd" %}
[Data Flows](/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
### 2. Create a Device
To create a new device, select *Create Device* in the **Assets Inventory**.
#### 2.1 Basic device Information
Add a device name and optionally a description, a tag, or define a custom field. Select *Next*.
Choose the **Data Flow** that you have created just before and select your desired offline timeout. Select *Next*.
#### 2.2. Connectivity Parameters
Fill in the **Connectivity Parameters** for your device.
* LoRaWAN: See [LoRaWAN](https://docs.akenza.io/api-reference/lorawan)
* HTTP / MQTT: Alphanumerical string of length between 8 and 64 characters
Finish the process with the *Create device* button.
To check incoming data of your device, select your device from the Asset Inventory table and check device status on the **Device detail page**.
**Congratulations**, you have successfully added your first device!
---
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