Summary

Edge computing is a broad space that requires the discipline of both the computer engineer and computer scientist (as well the network administrator, business manager, and security professional) to build a robust solution. In this chapter, we learned about edge uses cases and definitions and how they map from embedded systems to designs analogous to data centers on the edge. It is also imperative to understand the hardware architecture of the edge machine as a start.

We dove deep into the silicon and processor architectures and which types of architectures are relevant for various edge computing problems. There is also the consideration of the physical device and how it will be protected in a remote and unsupervised area. Next comes the software and operating system design. Building a robust and reliable system on the edge means the software needs to be self-managing, lean, and reliable. We explored ways to tune the edge surface area to reduce the upkeep, image size,...