How to set up a RMQTT cluster with Docker?

The README provides Docker commands for multi-node setup, but it requires manually specifying node IDs, IP addresses, and ports for Raft peers and gRPC, which can be complex. Using the provided docker-compose template simplifies this process.

RMQTT vs EMQX: which is better for large IoT systems?

RMQTT excels in Rust-based performance and native Rust integration, making it ideal for teams embedded in Rust ecosystems. EMQX, built in Erlang, offers a more mature plugin community and GUI tools, but RMQTT's bridging features are highly competitive for Kafka/Pulsar pipelines.

Does RMQTT fully support MQTT 5.0 features?

Yes, RMQTT implements MQTT v5.0 with features like shared subscriptions, session expiry, and topic aliases, as confirmed by passing all paho.mqtt.testing interoperability tests listed in the README.

How to integrate RMQTT with Apache Kafka?

RMQTT has built-in Kafka bridging modules for both ingress and egress modes, allowing messages to flow between MQTT topics and Kafka topics with minimal configuration, detailed in the documentation links.

What are the real-world performance numbers for RMQTT?

Benchmarks show 1 million concurrent connections on a single node with message throughput of 150,000/sec, and similar scalability in Raft cluster mode, as documented in the benchmark testing section.

Can I embed RMQTT in my own Rust application?

Yes, via library mode by adding 'rmqtt' as a Cargo dependency, enabling you to run the broker programmatically within your app for customized IoT solutions.

Is RMQTT secure for production IoT deployments?

It offers robust security with TLS, WebSocket-TLS, and extensible AUTH/ACL via JWT or HTTP, but teams must configure these manually, as there's no default secure setup out of the box.

Open-Awesome

Rmqtt

MITRust0.20.0

A scalable, distributed MQTT broker written in Rust, designed for high-concurrency IoT and M2M applications.

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947 stars115 forks0 contributors

What is Rmqtt?

RMQTT is a high-performance, distributed MQTT broker/server built in Rust. It is designed to handle massive-scale IoT and M2M communication, supporting millions of concurrent connections with full MQTT protocol compliance. It solves the need for a scalable, reliable, and extensible messaging backbone for modern connected devices and 5G applications.

Target Audience

IoT platform engineers, embedded systems developers, and backend architects building large-scale, real-time messaging systems for connected devices, smart infrastructure, and industrial automation.

Value Proposition

Developers choose RMQTT for its exceptional performance written in safe Rust, native distributed clustering for high availability, and extensive bridging capabilities to other messaging systems like Kafka and Pulsar, providing a future-proof and flexible IoT messaging foundation.

Overview

MQTT Server/MQTT Broker - Scalable Distributed MQTT Message Broker for IoT in the 5G Era

Use Cases

Best For

Building scalable IoT platforms requiring millions of device connections
Deploying a high-availability MQTT cluster for critical industrial IoT applications
Integrating MQTT data streams with Apache Kafka or Pulsar pipelines
Implementing secure, multi-tenant MQTT services with JWT or HTTP authentication
Embedding an MQTT broker directly within a Rust application
Handling real-time telemetry and command/control for large fleets of mobile or edge devices

Not Ideal For

Small-scale prototypes or hobby projects where a lightweight broker like Mosquitto would suffice
Teams unfamiliar with Rust or Docker who need out-of-the-box simplicity and extensive community support
Environments requiring built-in graphical dashboards or GUI management tools for monitoring
Use cases prioritizing minimal configuration over advanced features like distributed clustering or bridging

Pros & Cons

Pros

Massive Scalability

Benchmarks demonstrate support for over 1 million concurrent clients on a single node with throughput up to 150,000 messages per second, ideal for large IoT deployments.

Native Distributed Clustering

Built-in Raft-based clustering ensures high availability and horizontal scalability, critical for industrial IoT applications requiring fault tolerance.

Extensive Messaging Bridge

Seamless integration with Apache Kafka, Pulsar, NATS, and ReductStore via dedicated ingress/egress modes, enabling flexible data pipeline designs.

Flexible Security Integration

Supports multiple AUTH/ACL methods including HTTP, JWT, and WebHooks, allowing customization for multi-tenant or complex authentication scenarios.

Embeddable as Library

Can be embedded directly into Rust applications via Cargo dependency, offering programmatic control without standalone broker deployment.

Cons

Complex Cluster Configuration

Setting up multi-node clusters requires manual IP addressing and lengthy Docker command flags, as shown in the README, increasing setup time and error risk.

No Built-in Management GUI

Lacks a graphical interface for monitoring or administration, relying solely on HTTP APIs and logs, which may hinder operational visibility for non-technical users.

Rust Ecosystem Limitations

As a Rust-based project, it has a smaller community and fewer third-party plugins compared to established brokers like EMQX (Erlang) or HiveMQ (Java).

Steep Feature Learning Curve

Advanced features like topic rewriting, delayed publishing, and hooks require deep configuration file edits, which can be overwhelming for newcomers.

Open Source Alternative To

Rmqtt is an open-source alternative to the following products:

vernemq

VerneMQ is an open-source, scalable MQTT message broker designed for IoT applications that supports clustering and high availability deployments.

EMQX

EMQX is an open-source, scalable MQTT broker for IoT and real-time messaging applications, supporting millions of concurrent connections.

Mosquitto

Mosquitto is an open-source message broker that implements the MQTT protocol, commonly used for IoT applications and lightweight machine-to-machine communication.

HiveMQ

HiveMQ is an enterprise-grade MQTT broker platform designed for reliable, scalable, and secure IoT messaging and data movement.

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