Install the node-red-contrib-virtuino nodes, pick a field from your account with one click, and send / receive live values without ever typing an MQTT topic by hand.
Register for a free account and log in to the console.
From the console copy your Sub-account Key (e.g. vr-ab12cd34)
and your MQTT password. You'll enter both once, inside Node-RED.
Add a device (e.g. esp32) and its fields (e.g. temperature, relay1)
from the console. You'll pick these from a list inside Node-RED — no need to remember exact names.
Node-RED needs the package installed once, from its user directory (usually ~/.node-red).
cd ~/.node-red npm install node-red-contrib-virtuino # then restart Node-RED so it picks up the new nodes
Node-RED editor → menu (☰, top-right) → Manage palette → Install tab → search "node-red-contrib-virtuino" → Install (If it isn't listed yet in the public catalogue, use the "npm" tab instead — it works exactly the same way.)
Drag a virtuino out node onto the canvas, double-click it, and next to "Account" click the ✏️ pencil to create a new config node. Enter your Sub-account Key and MQTT password, then Add. Every node you add afterwards can reuse this same account.
Still inside the virtuino out node, press "Fetch from Cloud" —
it lists your real devices/fields. Pick one (e.g. esp32/temperature) and the topic
fills in automatically. Wire an inject node (payload: a number) into it, hit
Deploy, then click the inject node.
Drag a virtuino in node, same account, press "Fetch from Cloud" again — this time
it lists the topics your dashboard sends (e.g. a switch widget's relay1).
Wire it into a debug node, Deploy, then toggle that widget on your dashboard —
the value appears live in the Node-RED debug panel.
node-red-contrib-modbus, then hand the value
to a virtuino out node. See the
Modbus Gateway Guide.
Create a dashboard, add a widget (gauge, chart, value display…) and bind it to your field. Your Node-RED data appears instantly.