{"id":9024,"date":"2015-10-13T17:24:47","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T15:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.zhaw.ch\/icclab\/?p=9024"},"modified":"2015-10-14T09:08:32","modified_gmt":"2015-10-14T07:08:32","slug":"making-fog-computing-real-research-challenges-in-integrating-localized-computing-nodes-into-the-cloud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.zhaw.ch\/icclab\/making-fog-computing-real-research-challenges-in-integrating-localized-computing-nodes-into-the-cloud\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Fog computing real \u2013 Research challenges in integrating localized computing nodes into the cloud"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carlo Vallati<\/a> was a visiting researcher during Aug\/Sept 2015. (See here<\/a> for\u00a0a short note on his experience visiting). In this post he outlines how cloud computing needs to evolve to meet future requirements.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Despite the increasing usage of cloud computing as enabler for a wide number of applications, the next wave of technological evolution \u2013 the Internet of Things and Robotics \u2013 will require the extension of the classical centralized cloud computing architecture towards a more distributed architecture that includes computing and storage nodes installed close to users and physical systems. Edge computing will also require greater flexibility, necessary to handle the huge increase in the number of devices \u2013 a distributed architecture will guarantee scalability \u2013 and to deal with privacy concerns that are arising among end users \u2013 edge computing will limit exposure of private data[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In this context, a Fog computing[2]<\/a> layer \u2013 an extension to the centralized cloud infrastructure installed close to physical systems or end users \u2013 is commonly recognized as natural extension for the future cloud architecture to enable the execution of application logic at the edge[3]<\/a>. Such edge computing will be implemented through Fog nodes which will bring small computation and storage capabilities, supporting execution of applications that require low latency interactions with sensors, actuators, robots or end-users.<\/p>\n

\"Extending<\/a><\/p>\n

Such Fog nodes will be implemented using embedded systems, typically existing hardware such as industrial control boards or home routers. The limited memory, storage and computation of such devices will represent the main challenge in their integration into the existing cloud architecture to enable the execution of application logic, as current cloud platforms execute on powerful, centralized nodes and cannot support embedded systems.<\/p>\n

Their integration will leverage containers as virtualization technology for application delivery and execution that offers many advantages[4]<\/a> such as a lightweight and resource-friendly structure, which accommodates the constrained nature of Fog nodes, process and resource isolation and rapid and easy deployment. The latter in particular fostered the\u00a0diffusion of containers in today\u2019s cloud platforms \u2013 especially in PaaS platforms \u2013 making containerization the best strategy to guarantee large-scale distribution and efficient migration of applications[5]<\/a>. Their lightweight structure, in particular, makes containers the ideal virtualization technique for constrained devices deployed outside large datacenters for the following reasons:<\/p>\n