3 Edge systems componentry
This chapter covers
- Basic concepts of traditional computing systems and hardware.
- Examining high-performance edge hardware: HPE Edgeline computers.
- Examining constrained performance systems: Eurotech Reliagate hardware.
- Differentiating communication hardware for the edge.
- Understanding of the role of embedded systems.
Edge computing starts with edge hardware. Hardware components include everything from computing devices, sensors attached to the device, and communication systems between the device and the cloud. But hardware alone doesn’t define the edge. Software is also unique for edge applications. As we will learn, edge applications require unique hardware designs as well as bespoke software and applications. We will look at the system architecture of edge machines and edge hardware. By “system” we mean how everything comes together from the edge to the cloud including communications and networking.
3.1 Hardware Architecture
We could complete this book without touching on any hardware discussion, but that would be disingenuous in the understanding of what the edge is and what it can do. After all, each type of edge device is unique. Any computing device consists of three main components: a processor that executes code and performs arithmetic and logical functions, memory to store code and data, and a bus that communicates a processor to various memories. Figure 3.1 captures the relevant blocks of any computing system.