Overview of Edge Cluster

With the advent of the Internet of Everything era, the quantity of Internet smart terminal devices increases dramatically. With the popularization of 5G communication networks, the Internet data scale increases exponentially. Under the centralized architecture of traditional cloud computing, data transmission from the terminals to the cloud center, data storage, and computing can no longer meet the end users’ requirements for timeliness, capacity, and computing power. Applying the cloud computing power to the edge side, giving full play to the advantages of such characteristics as lightweight containers, easy migration, and easy replication, and using Kubernetes for unified delivery, operations, and control of applications has become an important development trend.

Cloud Container Engine for Edge is a solution launched by Baidu AI Cloud Container engine service for edge computing scenarios. Cloud Container Engine for Edge being fully compatible with native Kubernetes supports unified resource scheduling and application lifecycle management in edge computing scenarios. Cloud Container Engine for Edge provides the following two types of clusters:

• Kubernetes Nodes at the Edges

  As shown in the right part of the figure below, Kubernetes Nodes at the Edges is the control layer of Kubernetes in the cloud to manage computing nodes at the edges. Master is in the cloud, and Node is at the edges. The edge cluster supports cloud-edge collaboration, edge node autonomy, modular deployment (application distribution, service topology), and other capabilities. Also, the edge cluster achieves the resource allocation and scheduling of edge nodes and deployment and operations of applications by the Kubernetes native method.

  Note: The Kubernetes Nodes at the Edges is the main form of Cloud Container Engine for Edge. The Kubernetes Nodes at the Edges is currently in the open beta test stage. The CCE console supports the creation of "Edge Kubernetes clusters", i.e., Kubernetes Nodes at the Edges. You can apply for an open beta test for use. For the operation documentation, see Creating a Kubernetes Node at the Edge.

• Kubernetes Cluster at the Edges

  As shown in the left part pure the figure below, Kubernetes Cluster at the Edges is to deploy the complete Kubernetes clusters at the edges. Both the Master and Node are at the edges. Kubernetes Cluster at the Edges is usually suitable for edge computing scenarios that need to be close to the edge network. Therefore, users in edge scenarios can also get a consistent Kubernetes experience. If you have certain requirements for the computing power of the node instance, the Kubernetes components can operate in the Kubernetes Cluster at the Edges.

  Note: At present, the Kubernetes Cluster at the Edges is in the internal test stage. You can create the cluster only through custom parameters. For the operation documentation, see Create Kubernetes Cluster at the Edges.

The picture is sourced from the Internet and is only for reference.

Pricing of Edge Cluster

Baidu AI Cloud Container Engine (CCE) provides users with edge Kubernetes cluster services for free. Users only need to pay for the resources used, such as Baidu Edge Computing (BEC), Baidu Load Balance (BLB), and Elastic IP (EIP). For specific billing standards, see BEC Pricing, BLB Pricing, and EIP Pricing.