Hi Tara,

To help clarify the IoT subscription topic, here's a concise summary based on my partner manager's response:

What is Odoo IoT? The Odoo IoT enables communication between Odoo and specific hardware devices, especially when devices have incompatible communication protocols. There are two types of IoT solutions:

• Physical IoT Box (Raspberry Pi): A physical device running Odoo’s IoT software.
• Windows IoT (Virtual IoT): A software that runs on a Windows PC.

When Do You Need IoT?

1. Incompatible Communication Protocols: If a device cannot communicate directly with Odoo via IP, IoT acts as a bridge.
2. Automated Report Printing: IoT allows you to automatically print reports to designated printers, without manually downloading or selecting printers.

Choosing Between Physical and Virtual IoT

• Physical IoT Box: Recommended for setups involving multiple devices across different networks or physical locations.
• Windows IoT (Virtual): Suitable for setups where all devices are accessed from the same computer. However, accessing it from different devices may lead to firewall or configuration issues that the client must resolve.

IoT Subscription and Costs

• IoT Box Subscription: €25/month or else depending on the country, covering driver development and maintenance—not the hardware itself (the hardware is provided for free).
• Windows IoT Subscription: Free, but still requires an IoT subscription line for the SSL certificate necessary for secure communication.
• IoT Subscription Line: Needed for both IoT solutions (physical and virtual) to ensure secure communication with Odoo through SSL certificates. One subscription line is required per IoT device.

How Many IoTs Do You Need?

• Depends on factors like the number of shops, physical proximity of devices, and technical constraints such as the number of devices that need direct connections (e.g., payment terminals or scales).
• Each IoT Box/Windows IoT can manage multiple devices in the same network.

I was wondering the same thing and confirmed with our Odoo sales rep. If you use the virtual IoT box on windows, the subscription is free. If you use the Odoo physical box, there is a subscription fee. As for using the IoT image on a generic RPi, i haven't received an answer.

Unfortunately you still have to pay for the IoT subscription.