Implementing Virtualization on Single-Board Computers: A Case Study on Edge Computing

Lambropoulos, Georgios; Mitropoulos, Sarandis; Douligeris, Christos; Maglaras, Leandros

Abstract

The widespread adoption of cloud computing has resulted in centralized datacenter structures; however, there is a requirement for smaller-scale distributed infrastructures to meet the demands for speed, responsiveness, and security for critical applications. Single-Board Computers (SBCs) present numerous advantages such as low power consumption, low cost, minimal heat emission, and high processing power, making them suitable for applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), experimentation, and other advanced projects. This paper investigates the possibility of adopting virtualization technology on Single-Board Computers (SBCs) for the implementation of reliable and cost-efficient edge-computing environments.The results of this study are based on experimental implementations and testing conducted in the course of a case study performed on the edge infrastructure of a financial organization, where workload migration was achieved from a traditional to an SBC-based edge infrastructure. The performance of the two infrastructures was studied and compared during this process, providing important insights into the power efficiency gains, resource utilization, and overall suitability for the organization’s operational needs.

Citation

Lambropoulos, G., Mitropoulos, S., Douligeris, C., & Maglaras, L. (2024). Implementing Virtualization on Single-Board Computers: A Case Study on Edge Computing. Computers, 13(2), Article 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/computers13020054

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 18, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Journal: Computers
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 54
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/computers13020054
• Keywords: edge computing, virtualization, Raspberry Pi, SBC
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3535945