In this episode, we unpack how the message types Sparkplug B uses “birth certificates” — the NBIRTH and DBIRTH messages — to let systems know when an edge node or device first comes online and what it can report. We’ll walk through what information each birth message contains, how it helps with discovery and session tracking, and why it matters if you’re streaming data from a plant floor. Also, we’ll touch on what happens when things go offline (i.e., the death certificates) and why missing those can mess up your data quality. It’s a friendly, grounded look at a piece of IIoT messaging that often gets overlooked. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.