Self-Learning Series Part 4: Explore the Open Design and Platform Architecture
Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:53:00 -0000
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Edge has a unique set of challenges that require a new way of architecting to solve them. Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm where data processing is performed closer to the data source or "edge" of the network, rather than relying solely on centralized cloud servers.
An open design fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. It promotes flexibility and a more future-proof approach to edge computing. However, it's essential to carefully evaluate the specific requirements of the edge computing environment and choose the approach that best aligns with the organization's goals and constraints.
In this blog, we will help you understand how to get the most out of edge investments using an open design that works with software applications, IoT frameworks, multi-vendor operations technology solutions, and multicloud environments of your choice. This will allow you to consolidate technology silos and deliver consistent management experience across devices with connectivity out of the box.
A Unique Set of Challenges
When edge computing lacks an open design, it can face several challenges, including:
- Vendor Lock-In—Without open standards and interoperability, organizations may become locked into a specific vendor's proprietary solutions. This limits flexibility, hinders innovation, and leads to higher costs.
- Lack of Ecosystem—A closed system can stifle competition, reducing options and potentially raising prices.
- Security Concerns—Closed, proprietary systems may lack transparency, making it more difficult to assess and improve security.
- Scalability—Scalability is critical for edge computing, as the number of edge devices and their diversity can vary widely. Closed systems are more rigid and make it difficult to scale.
As a result, closed systems may limit the ability of developers and organizations to innovate and create customized edge computing solutions.
What Is Multicloud by Design?
Multicloud by design, also known as a multi-cloud strategy or multi-cloud architecture, is an intentional approach to utilizing multiple cloud service providers for various aspects of an organization's computing needs. In this strategy, a company deliberately chooses to use two or more cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to meet specific business requirements.
While multicloud offers numerous benefits, it also introduces complexities in terms of management, orchestration, and security. Organizations need to plan their multi-cloud strategy carefully, including workload placement, data synchronization, network configurations, and security measures, to ensure a successful and efficient implementation. Specialized tools and services designed for managing multi-cloud environments can assist in these efforts.
Watch the following video on how to optimize your edge investment:
A New Way of Architecting
Built on an open design, Dell NativeEdge offers the flexibility to choose the ISV applications and cloud environments for your edge application workloads. You can centrally and consistently deploy containerized and virtual applications using blueprints to work with your choice of IoT frameworks and OT vendors. Like everything else from Dell, NativeEdge is multicloud by design, enabling you to deploy applications across and new or existing environment.
Here are a few advantages of using an open design system:
- Flexibility—Open architectures allow organizations to choose from a variety of hardware, software, and services. This flexibility is particularly important in the dynamic edge computing environment, where the diversity of devices and use cases can vary.
- Avoiding Vendor Lock-In—With open designs, organizations are less likely to become locked into a single vendor's proprietary solutions. This reduces the risks associated with vendor dependency and enables businesses to switch or integrate different technologies more easily.
- Cost-Effectiveness—Open design often leads to cost-effective solutions. Open-source software and standards can reduce licensing fees and minimize the need for expensive proprietary hardware, helping organizations optimize their budgets.
- Scalability—Open architectures are typically designed with scalability in mind, making it easier to expand edge computing solutions as requirements grow or change.
- Security and Transparency—Open-source projects are transparent, allowing users to inspect the source code for security vulnerabilities. Community review and contributions help identify and address security issues promptly.
- Ecosystem Growth—An open design fosters a broader ecosystem of complementary software and hardware solutions, enhancing the availability of tools and services that can be integrated into the edge computing environment.
Edge Partner Ecosystem
We are working with partners to co-engineer and develop solutions that include software, partner intellectual property, products, and services. Dell also has some of the biggest, longest-standing partnerships in the industry with companies like Microsoft, Intel, and VMware.
When market-leading companies team together to create and offer validated, proven reference architectures, then we can help you mitigate risk and accelerate your time to revenue.
As an example, with NativeEdge, the Dell Validated Design for Manufacturing Edge using Telit Cinterion can be implemented and brought to market quicker, allowing for faster and more secure deployment, lower costs, increased security, and more reliable and repetitive outcomes based on the blueprints implemented. This allows for:
- Quicker data collection and analysis when deployed on-premises
- Increased integration of information from existing assets across all NativeEdge-enabled Devices
- Simpler configuration
- Simplified connection of devices
By removing the complexity of deployment and adding the element of application-level lifecycle management, NativeEdge reduces the amount of physical touch required and creates a repeatable deployment process at scale.
Dell Technologies will continue to foster partnerships to develop open software that enables interoperability and ease of operations while avoiding being locked into expensive, proprietary technologies that limit your ability to innovate and create. For more information, visit our Edge Ecosystem.
Watch the following video: Power management company optimizes edge investments for success
Conclusion
Make the most of edge investments by using an open design that works with software applications, IoT frameworks, multi-vendor operations technology solutions, and multicloud environments. This enables you to deploy applications across new or existing environments. NativeEdge will support each edge use case with an open design that works with your choice of software applications, IoT frameworks, OT vendor solutions, and multicloud environments.
Dell Technologies is going to enable its existing strong edge ecosystem of partners to leverage the open, vendor-agnostic design, allowing customers to optimize their edge investment. This way, we can put the customer in the driver’s seat to control their edge.
To learn more about how to simplify edge operations at scale, click here to see an interactive flip-book.
Additional Resources
To learn more about NativeEdge Application Orchestration, click on the following links:
This blog is a part of a self-learning series. For more information on NativeEdge, go to: