Apache NiFi Introduction

Apache NiFi is a free and open-source data integration tool that enables users to automate the flow of data between disparate systems. It was created by the National Security Agency (NSA) and later released to the public via the Apache Software Foundation.

The primary goal of NiFi is to automate the flow of data between systems, making it easier to integrate data from various sources and send it to various destinations. NiFi provides a graphical user interface through which users can design and manage data flows by utilizing a set of pre-built processors and connectors.

NiFi can handle a variety of data types, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, and it can process data in real time. It also includes security features that allow users to safeguard sensitive data as it moves between systems.

Apache Spark Features

The following is a list of Apache NiFi's main characteristics:

• Data Flow Management: NiFi provides a web-based graphical interface for designing and managing data flows between disparate systems.
• Scalability: NiFi is built to handle large-scale data processing, allowing users to quickly and efficiently process and move large amounts of data.
• Real-time Data Processing: NiFi supports real-time data processing, allowing users to process data as it is generated rather than waiting for batch processing.
• Pre-built Connectors: NiFi includes a large library of pre-built connectors that enable users to integrate with a variety of systems and data sources, such as databases, file systems, messaging systems, and others.
• Data Provenance: NiFi gives users detailed information about the origin and movement of data, allowing them to track the data flow and troubleshoot issues.
• Security: NiFi includes built-in security features such as user authentication and authorization, data encryption, and SSL/TLS support.
• NiFi is highly extensible, allowing users to develop custom processors and extensions to meet their specific data processing requirements.

Apache Spark Components

The following are some of Apache NiFi's key components:

• FlowFile: The FlowFile is the fundamental data unit in NiFi. It represents a piece of data passing through the NiFi system and contains both the data and metadata about the data.
• Processor: A processor is a NiFi component that filters, transforms, routes, or aggregates data on a FlowFile.
• Connection: A Connection is a channel that connects two processors and enables the flow of a file between them.
• Data flow controller: The data flow controller is in charge of starting, stopping, and managing the data flow between processors.
• Flow Configuration: The Flow Configuration is a group of linked connections and processors that specifies how data flows through the NiFi system.
• Remote Process Group: A Remote Process Group enables NiFi to communicate with other NiFi instances running on different servers or in different locations.
• Template: To quickly create new data flows, a template is a reusable configuration of processors and connections.