Demo: EdgeNet, a Production Internet-Scale Container-Based Distributed System Testbed

Abstract

The EdgeNet software is free, open-source, liberally licensed code that extends the Kubernetes container orchestration system to the edge cloud. We use this code to run the EdgeNet testbed, an internet-scale edge cloud for distributed systems researchers. This demonstration showcases three features of EdgeNet: its multitenancy model, its multi-provider aspect, and its geographically-based selective deployment capability. Multitenancy allows multiple teams to use the platform concurrently; being multi-provider, independent contributors can make nodes available to the platform; and selective deployment facilitates location-based placement of software. Under our guidance, demo participants invoke the Kubernetes command-line interface to use the testbed. In so doing, they get experience with the testbed, which they can continue to use afterwards. They also gain insight into how the demonstrated features are useful for edge cloud container deployment in general. Participants who volunteer to help EdgeNet nodes receive Odroid devices to host in their homes or workplaces.