Linux device management: Kamea connectivity agent

Deep dive into Kamea IoT connectivity agent for Linux device management: Klas.

Paired with Kamea, we propose a connectivity agent called Klas which provides manufacturers of Linux-based devices with a simple and controlled way to connect their equipment to the platform.

Distributed as source code, Klas integrates directly into your systems and addresses the essential needs of modern Linux device management: secure connectivity, data collection and exposure, bidirectional control, and remote updates.

Beyond these fundamentals, the agent adapts to business use cases through clear interfaces that let you embed your application logic without compromising operational robustness.

Why use a connectivity agent for Linux devices?

Save time: Leverage a ready-to-use foundation built on Linux best practices and fully integrated with Kamea, reducing development effort and accelerating deployment.
Stay in control: Your application remains the decision-maker. Choose what data to publish, when to apply configurations, when to execute commands, and when to install updates.
Be flexible: Klas is open-source, adaptable, and packaged for major Linux distros. It’s optional, giving you the freedom to use Klas or implement your own agent.
Optimize with confidence: Maintain control over your tech stack while ensuring native interoperability with Kamea and built-in observability for reliable monitoring and governance.

Overview of Klas agent for Linux device management

Klas is a Linux application that exposes a D-Bus API, a standard IPC technology in the embedded Linux ecosystem, along with easy-to-edit configuration files.

Its role is to manage connectivity with Kamea, publish telemetry, orchestrate configuration management, execute remote commands, and handle updates for the operating system (OS), applications, or files.

The connectivity agent is open and integrable: you can adopt it as-is, fork it, or simply use it as inspiration for your own implementation.

For system integration, we provide a Yocto meta-layer and support recompilation on Debian and Ubuntu; a .deb package is planned to streamline dynamic installations.

Provisioning: Bringing your Linux devices into Kamea

The Klas agent implements the provisioning mechanisms supported by Kamea, including MQTT with keys and certificates, as well as Azure IoT Hub via connection strings or certificates.

Configuration is declarative, grouping Linux device identity, chosen protocol, authentication details, and runtime parameters. Once provisioning is complete, the IoT device is recognized by the platform and can establish secure, persistent communication when required by the protocol.

This approach reduces friction in production and integrates seamlessly into your industrial workflows without forcing a redesign of your PKI or secret management practices.

Telemetry: Monitor Linux devices health and business data

Klas reports standard Linux telemetry, such as RAM usage, disk occupancy, and other platform health indicators. The reporting frequency is configurable to balance precision, latency, and network load.

For your business-specific needs, the agent exposes a D-Bus interface that allows your application to publish key/value pairs representing sensor data, processing states, or internal metrics. These data points can then be consumed by your web applications, cloud backends, or mobile apps, with the granularity and delivery guarantees suited to your chosen protocol.

Configuration management

Kamea manages configurations as key pairs consisting of a desired value and a reported value. The Klas agent automatically reports a set of relatively static state information, such as the Linux kernel version, IP address, and network settings; these are sent at each system startup and on demand, rather than continuously like telemetry.

For your custom parameters, Klas relays desired changes via D-Bus events, and your application applies the configuration, then reports the status (success or error). This gives you fine-grained control over configuration application and a clear audit trail of changes.

Remote commands for real-time actions

Klas supports remote commands to perform actions on your devices in real time when the protocol allows. You implement your handlers via the agent’s D-Bus API for operations such as restarting a service, resetting a sensor, or capturing logs.

This model offers low latency, execution traceability, and proper isolation between the connectivity agent and your business logic, avoiding side effects from uncontrolled commands.

Application-driven OTA updates for Linux

Kamea supports an update system with naming conventions and dedicated configurations for distributing firmware, applications, or files.

The Klas agent acts as a cautious orchestrator: it never initiates downloads or installations without explicit approval from your application.

In practice, the agent receives an update offer, your application accepts or rejects, then Klas downloads the binary if approved. Once the download is complete, the agent notifies that the package is ready to install; your application then executes the installation and reports the outcome (success or failure) via D-Bus.

The entire flow is documented in Klas with a state diagram detailing transitions and control points, making implementation and auditing straightforward.

Gateway mode and industrial protocols for Linux platforms

Klas also introduces a gateway mode to communicate with industrial protocols from your Linux platform to locally connected equipment.

The first supported protocol is Modbus, enabling writes via configurations and reads via telemetry, all configured through files and integrated with Kamea’s standard interfaces. Support for OPC UA, Profinet, and CAN / CAN-FD is planned.

The goal is to simplify life for manufacturers who want their Linux device to act as a relay for industrial IoT protocols, without multiplying components and while maintaining a consistent observability and governance chain in Kamea.

Linux OS integration and packaging

For Yocto environments (like Welma), we provide a dedicated meta-layer to simplify integration into your Linux distribution and ensure maintainability across versions.

On Debian or Ubuntu, the agent can be recompiled and deployed according to your operational practices; a .deb package standardizes installation and reduces initial integration effort.

In all cases, the agent adheres to embedded Linux development best practices (systemd services, logging, permission management) to deliver clean, predictable, and documented integration.

Quick start your Linux device management

Getting started with Klas connectivity agent for Linux is straightforward.

First, integrate the agent into your system (clone the repository, add it to your build, or install the binary).
Then configure provisioning by choosing MQTT or IoT Hub and entering your credentials.
Enable the service at startup.
Publish your first business telemetry to validate ingestion on Kamea.
Next, test a full desired → applied → reported configuration cycle to validate your D-Bus logic.
Finally simulate an update (e.g., on a small file) to verify the OTA workflow end-to-end.

After these steps, your Linux device is fully operational in Kamea IoT platform and ready for controlled scaling.