Processing close to where data is produced.
WHAT IT MEANS
Performing computation near the source of data rather than in a distant central facility.
WHY IT EXISTS
Latency that distance imposes and bandwidth cannot remove The cost of transporting large volumes of data Continued operation when connectivity fails Privacy, where data should not leave a location
WHAT USES IT
Industrial control and monitoring Video analysis at the camera Retail and point-of-sale systems Autonomous systems Content delivery
WHAT AN EDGE LOCATION LOOKS LIKE
Anything from a device, to a small cabinet, to a compact facility.
WHAT CONSTRAINS IT
Limited power and cooling Limited physical security Limited or no staff Intermittent connectivity
WHAT THAT REQUIRES
Remote management, reliably Automation, since nobody is present Resilience to being unattended Tolerance of disconnection
WHY THAT MATTERS LOCALLY
Distributed facilities reduce dependence on distant regions and international routes.
WHAT TO DESIGN FOR
Operating correctly while disconnected, and reconciling afterwards.
