In the white paper, a rough description of the architecture of edge computing is given. Figure 2 shows the functions and composition of each part of the platform. The key to edge computing is to integrate the IT server with the RAN side. The MEC server It is used to provide computing resources, storage space, connections and real-time information on related wireless networks, etc. In the subsequent standardization introduction of ETSI, there will be a detailed description of the platform details.
The MEC server platform mainly consists of three parts: host platform, application platform and APP management platform.
1) The MEC host platform mainly consists of MEC hardware resources and MEC virtual layer. Hardware resources include: CPU, GPU, hard drive (mechanical hard drive or solid state drive), switch, network card, etc. The virtual layer intercepts all x86 instructions and executes ” “Simulation operation”. This virtual layer is an intermediate additional layer between the hardware platform and the upper layer (that is, the current operating system). The advantage is that it has a supervision and simulation environment, but the disadvantage is that it brings performance losses. But then With the further popularization of computing virtualization, migration from physical machine platforms to virtualization platforms is a trend.
The MEC application platform provides the function of hosting applications and is controlled by the application virtualization manager and application platform.
Service composition. Virtualization management provides infrastructure as a service (laaS) facilities. Virtualization management
The IaaS controller supports flexible, efficient, multi-tenant, running and hosting environments. The IaaS controller provides a security and resource sandbox for applications and platforms. Virtual appliance applications run on top of IaaS and act as wrapper-operating system virtual machines. (visual machine, VM) image delivery, allowing complete freedom of deployment. LoRa gateway
2) The MEC application platform provides a set of middleware application services and infrastructure services for applications residing on the MEC platform (also called APPs hosted on the MEC server), which mainly include:
1Infrastructure services． It is mainly divided into communication services and service registration. The communication between applications and services in the MEC server is designed according to the principles of service oriented architecture (SOA).
2 Radio network information services (RNIS). Mobile computing allows cloud application services to be hosted with mobile network elements, while also helping to take advantage of available
Real-time network and wireless information. MEC RNIS provides low-level radio and network information to authorized applications, including: cell ID, mobile terminal location information, cell load and throughput rate, etc. In future edge computing, wireless networks can be provided Information will be more diverse.
3 Traffic offload function (TOF). The TOF service can route selected, policy-based, user data flows to applications that are authorized to receive data. The traffic offload function, in short, is the diversion of traffic. , divert and offload some local or network edge-oriented traffic to the edge computing platform for further processing.
3) For the MEC APP management platform, a management interface is also provided for operators to manage the platform, and at the same time manage the life cycle and operability of APPs and services hosted on the MEC platform. This management interface is related to The APP itself has nothing to do. The main functions supported are: management and configuration of the application platform, management of the life cycle of the APP, and VM operation and management.
Configuration management of application platforms. Configuration management of application platforms provides a standard way to package applications. It includes descriptors of applications and VM-level system properties related to computing, storage, and network resources and configuration. APP The main purpose of packaging and encapsulation is to solve the portability and deployment issues of virtual devices on multi-vendor MEC platforms and ensure the integrity protection of the software.
APP life cycle. The MEC application platform management interface allows operators to manage the APP life cycle, including APP deployment, APP start work, end work, de-deployment, etc.
Operation and management of virtual machines. The MEC application platform management interface supports fault management and performance measurement at the virtual machine level. The performance of a virtual machine has a great impact on the work of the APP hosted on it.