MyiFogSim: A Simulator for Virtual Machine Migration in Fog Computing

Abstract

Low latency in IT applications is an important aspect of improving the quality of the user's experience. Frequently, applications are run in a virtual machine in the cloud. Because cloud providers are datacentre facilities that are often distant from users, unacceptably high latencies are experienced in some applications. Fog computing can be seen as a cloud computing extension, namely cloudlets, located in access points at the edge of the network and hence able to provide lower latencies than the cloud. However, as mobile devices and applications become more popular, users' computing and data capacities should be maintained close to the user to keep latencies as low as possible. This paper discusses resource allocation in fog computing in the face of users' mobility and introduces MyiFogSim, an extension of iFogSim to support mobility through migration of virtual machines between cloudlets. Moreover, a migration policy is proposed, and MyiFogSim is used to analyze the policy impact on application quality of service. Results suggest that the policy can promote lower latencies when compared to a scenario without the migration policy.