We want to utilise the device simulation service to replicate real iot hardware. Ideally we would be able to mirror the dataflow (telemetry messages, Device Twin Reported Property Updates) and control interface (Direct Methods, C2D Message, Device Twin Desired Property Updates) 1 to 1.

We currently use custom devices to send custom telemetry data and IoT Hub direct methods to control the simulated device.

1. Is it possible to pass a payload with the direct method call, and if yes, how can this payload be accessed in a custom device configuration javascript file?

2. Is it possible to change reported properties and have them updated to the device twin reported property? As far as we see, changing and updating the properties object in the simulated device state.js has no effect at all. (Also, neither the Tags or Properties node in the simulated device json are written to the iot hub device twin.)

3. Is it possible to have the simulated device react to changes in the device twin desired properties?

If there is documentation about any of the above questions please point us in the right direction.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a new device group that alphabetically will show up before "All devices".

2. Refresh the browser when anywhere in the RM solution.

3. Device group will automatically be filtered the first device group in the Device Group drop down.

Instead, the flow should bring the user back to the device group that I was looking at before refreshing, or if not, "all devices"

Generally, If we select a device group (say Trucks) and refresh the browser, the resulting page should land me with the same device group (Trucks). It shouldn't be All devices nor the device group which is alphabetically first.

I think Azure has a wide range of services that somewhat come near to a global, scalable, reliable, realtime bidirectional message broker aiming at real low latency, but all miss something to be "the solution" for Azure customers.
I know there is Azure IoT, but it is very asymmetric toward data ingestion. SignalR is not that much scalable. Event Hub is one direction only, etc.

Think:
https://framework.realtime.co/
https://www.pubnub.com
https://pusher.com/
etc...

They all aim (or at least try to) at very low latency, have a wide range of supported platforms, seem to be scalable.

I think Azure has the infrastructure but is missing the service. And I am not speaking of installing Kafka on Azure VMs, I mean a true pay-per-use we-care-of-everything service.