Open source solutions provider Red Hat has introduced new capabilities for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Openshift. These would help organizations integrate edge computing into hybrid cloud deployments.
The Linux platform gains new features that would maximize system stability and maintain workload independence in smaller physical environments. In addition, enterprise Kubernetes platform Red Hat OpenShift now offers a remote worker node architecture. This solution can help deliver Kubernetes in limited space and remote deployments environments.
The enhancements in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.3 would make it easier for the platform to move from core data centers to remote servers with limited space. In addition, the platform is built to provide the support, stability, and security features needed for enterprise edge deployments.
Edge-centric updates for Red Hat Enterprise Linux would include:
- Fast production of operating system images for the edge using the Image Builder feature. This would enable IT organizations to more easily create dedicated images that are optimized for the broad architectural challenges of edge computing, but adapted to the specific needs of a particular implementation.
- Remote device update mirroring to prepare and apply at the next restart or powercycle, helping to reduce downtime and manual intervention by IT teams.
- Over-the-air updates that send less data and still pass the necessary code, an ideal feature for locations with limited or varying connectivity.
- Intelligent rollbacks based on OSTree capabilities that enable users to perform health checks for their specific workloads to identify conflicts or issues with the code. When a problem is detected, the image is automatically reset to the last good update, avoiding unnecessary interruptions at the edge.
- With these capabilities, Red Hat Enterprise Linux would be able to provide a single production-ready Linux platform that can span the entire enterprise, from on-premise servers to the public cloud and from data centers to the most remote edge devices.
This open innovation standardization provides the backbone for open hybrid cloud, stated Red Hat. It would allow organizations to focus on the innovation of their applications and services rather than compatibility or integration challenges within an IT domain.
Open Hybrid Cloud
Red Hat strongly believes that edge computing requires an open hybrid cloud built on a foundation of enterprise Linux and production-ready Cubernets. With the announced updates, both Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat OpenShift are further equipped to meet demand.
“Red Hat strongly believes that the concept of edge computing, as we know it, cannot exist without an open hybrid cloud,” said Stefanie Chiras, Vice President and General Manager at Red Hat. “Enterprise Linux and the Kubernetes platform are the backbone of the hybrid cloud, making these technologies critical to the further growth of edge computing. The new capabilities for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat OpenShift confirm this point, making it possible for organizations to build on open and standards-based innovation throughout their IT landscape. From server rooms and virtual environments to public clouds and the remotest locations of their enterprise networks.”
Red Hat Openshift, Remote Worker Nodes
In August 2020, Red Hat introduced OpenShift 3-node cluster support that allowed the Kubernetes platform to support the edge of the network in a smaller footprint. Now, OpenShift further extends edge support with remote worker nodes.
Remote worker nodes enable IT organizations to set up single worker nodes at remote locations. These can then be managed by centralized supervisor nodes at a larger location, such as a core or regional data center. This would provide an additional opportunity for organizations that are pursuing Kubernetes innovation “at the cutting edge.”
Combined with Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes, IT teams can deploy “more consistent and stable” Kubernetes clusters, along with their associated resources, wherever connectivity to the Internet is reliable in the open hybrid cloud. For example, telecom companies need to deploy RAN Distributed Unit (DU) in locations where a smaller footprint is required, where the controller merges multiple DU locations and the supervisor nodes are housed in the central unit.
In addition, a new AI/ML industrial production blueprint is now available as a complete GitOps repository that anyone can use, study and also contribute to.
In addition to the new capabilities in its portfolio of hybrid cloud technologies, Red Hat also maintains a comprehensive partner ecosystem for complete enterprise edge deployments. Recent announcements with Samsung and NVIDIA show how these partnerships may help extend Red Hat’s edge capabilities over a wide range of use cases to support critical edge workloads, including AI and 5G.
“Edge products and services enable the next wave of digital transformation, both globally and in almost every industry, with edge technology vendors seeing a significant market opportunity in the coming years,” said Dave McCarthy, research director of Edge Strategies at IDC. “Software vendors such as Red Hat that can leverage existing data center technologies, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat OpenShift, in an edge-centric manner are well positioned to take advantage of this shift”.
