# Connect a Device {% hint style="info" %} If you do not have a physical device at hand, you can use the [Device Simulator](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/create-new-device/device-simulator). {% 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](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/deprecated/sigfox) * [Disruptive Technologies](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/tutorials/add-devices/how-to-integrate-disruptive-technologies-on-akenza) * [Yanzi](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/deprecated/how-to-connect-the-yanzi-lifecycle-cloud-on-akenza) ![Device connector](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2FJJ4fofdfadr0scKd4MRB%2Fscreely-1685009166920.png?alt=media\&token=413d96f4-2d5b-46f8-ad2a-3f580a865c5c) #### **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](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/device-type/device-type) for your device. Select *Passthrough i*f no data parsing is required. The payload will be forwarded without changes. ![Device Type](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2FPZM1h8LTsI3xFig7kmd1%2Fscreely-1685009335042.png?alt=media\&token=042d53ae-9dd0-4f45-8f62-f6506fb01178) #### **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](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/databases/akenza-db) * [Webhook](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/webhook) * [Azure IoT Hub](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/azure-iot-hub) * [Google Pub/Sub](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/google-cloud-pub-sub) * [InfluxDB](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/databases/influxdb) * [AWS Kinesis](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/aws-kinesis) * [Apache Kafka](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/streaming/apache-kafka) **Notification services:** * [E-Mail](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/email) * [SMS](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/sms) * [Microsoft Teams](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/microsoft-teams) * [Slack](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow/connectors/notifications/slack) ![Output connectors](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2F0689O5nk78dGmdgW9gQ1%2Fscreely-1685009389941.png?alt=media\&token=9944cc24-3a2b-418f-a181-28731205755f) {% hint style="info" %} 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="../get-started/your-data-flow" %} [your-data-flow](https://docs.akenza.io/akenza.io/get-started/your-data-flow) {% endcontent-ref %} ### 2. Create a Device To create a new device, select *Create Device* in the **Assets Inventory**. ![Asset Inventory Overview](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2F3sQz6seQBWB1c3MOI3wI%2Fscreely-1685009458877.png?alt=media\&token=97654315-4571-4d58-8706-442232d39174) #### 2.1 Basic device Information Add a device name and optionally a description, a tag, or define a custom field. Select *Next*. ![Device information](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2FI8DpAlPp9R9XIXcTlVVA%2Fscreely-1685009514484.png?alt=media\&token=53f88fe8-1651-45d7-bc44-c6b3a5bc79c2) 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 ![Connectivity parameters](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2Fa25CKln4jAytjPjFkOsQ%2Fscreely-1685009639097.png?alt=media\&token=6a7229de-e2cf-4159-840a-6fc0ea01e7c6) 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**. ![Device detail page](https://2165942204-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MMKXTFIN5ZlLOjBlfC4%2Fuploads%2FI3iaPPtERG6rSNX0biWM%2Fscreely-1685009736677.png?alt=media\&token=22af2582-5020-4a1e-9728-356cebc474c4) **Congratulations**, you have successfully added your first device!