Networks around the world are going through a massive transformation in which edge computing devices and edge infrastructure development hold a key role. This edge revolution is to leverage the potential of IoT that will be unleashed on the back of 5G roll out in the future not so far.
全球的网络正经历一场巨大的变革：边缘计算设备和边缘架构的发展引领了关键角色。这场边缘革命利用并且在不久的将来5G推出后爆发出物联网的潜力
Groundbreaking technologies and solutions evolving in the SDN, NFV and Multi-Access Edge.
开创性的技术和解决方案将在SDN，NFV，多接入边缘领域脱颖而出。
Computing verticals are laying a foundation for an agile and cost-effective network infrastructure. These technologies are designed to provide highly optimized and distributed compute and storage resources for the proper implementation of 5G services in an IoT heaven.
计算垂直领域正在为敏捷且具有成本效益的网络基础设施奠定基础。这些技术旨在提供高度优化的分布式计算和存储资源，以便在 5G 服务在IoT领域中大展手脚。
What is edge computing and why does it matter?
什么是边缘计算？为何如此重要？
Edge computing is a method of improving data processing in cloud-based computing systems by performing it at the edge of the network, closer to the source of the data. There are several benefits to using edge computing technologies such as:
边缘计算是一种通过在位于网络边缘、距离数据源头更近的云计算系统内处理数据以提升效率的方法。利用边缘计算技术又如下几点优势：
- Assisting with latency challenges.
- Bringing bandwidth-intensive content much closer to the user.
- Helping to enable future network infrastructure.
- 助力应对时延的挑战
- 下沉带宽密集型内容
- 赋能未来网络架构
Much of the power processing that used to be performed at the core of the cloud, such as analyzing data now is possible through certain types of network infrastructure. As shown in the picture below, the edge helps with real-time data processing closer to the source or even on-premises.
大多数算力产生在中心云，例如可以穿过某些类型的网络架构实现数据分析。如下图所示，边缘计算可以让数据在更接近源头甚至在产生数据的地方得到实时处理。
All that information from IoT sensors and controllers such as cobots, smart vehicles, smart industry, and more, does not longer need to be sent directly to the cloud. It would take a long time to send tons of data for processing to servers located across the world. These edge computing devices can analyze, buffer and cache all that data.
从协作型机器人，智慧交通，智慧工厂等IoT传感器、控制器产生的信息不必再直接传输给云。将大量的信息发送到全球各地的服务器中进行处理需要耗费很长的时间。而边缘计算设备则可以缓冲、缓存、并分析这些数据。
Within the coming years, the power of the cloud would probably be replaced by the edge.
放眼将来，云的影响力将被边缘所取代
Let’s now take a look at some of the different edge computing technologies that are being implemented now in order to help facilitate and manage the predicted increase in IoT and 5G usage.
让我们窥探下那些正被用于促进和管理IoT和5G领域应用潜在增长的边缘计算技术
Edge Computing Technologies
边缘计算技术
There are plenty of reasons as to why organizations might begin to employ edge computing technologies into their network infrastructure. From real-time AI data analysis and enhanced application performance, to much lower operating costs and scheduled downtime.
企业在网络架构中采用边缘计算的理由数不胜数。从实时AI数据分析，增强应用性能到到降低运营成本和维护时间。
*But what individual technologies are enabling enhanced networks such as 5G? How are they improving existing network infrastructures and what will their benefits be? *
还有哪些技术能像5G一样提速网络？它们又是如何提升现存的网络架构？又有怎样的优势？
In this section,computing (MEC), fog computing, cloudlets,microdata centers,and a new concept referred to as the Cloud of Things. We’ll see what they are and how they work in order to better understand their role in enabling next-generation network infrastructures.
接下来的内容包含：MEC,雾计算，微云，微数据中心，还有称之为物云的新概念。为了更好的理解这些技术在赋能下一代网络架构中扮演的角色，我们将一探它们究竟是如何工作的。
Multi-Access Edge Computing
多接入边缘计算
Multi-access Edge Computing or Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is a network architecture that enables the placement of computational and storage resources within the radio access network (RAN). The MEC helps to improve network efficiency and the delivery of content to end-users. In order to do this, this device can adapt to the load on the radio link to improve network efficiency and decrease the need for long-distance backhauling.
多接入边缘计算或者移动边缘计算是一种通过无线接入网（RAN）来布置计算存储资源的一种网络架构。MEC助益提升网络效率和终端用户的内容交付。这类设备通常植入在无线链路中，降低了长途回程的需求，提升了网络效率，实现了上述目标。
As shown in the picture below, the Fixed or Mobile Access Network which are usually located close to the end-user, in some cases one hop away, can play the role of an NFV platform.
如下图所示，固定接入网和移动接入网通常坐落于靠近终端用户侧，有些情况下离用户也只有一跳距离，充当着NFV平台的角色。
As network demands look to increase significantly as more IoT and 5G-enabled technologies and devices are developed, the mobile edge computing allows operators to deal with this excessive traffic and resource demands more intelligently. It also helps with laying the foundations for future intelligent and next-generation networks.
随着网络需求的显著增长，IoT和5G赋能的技术和设备也日渐成熟；通过MEC，运营商也能更明智的处理海量的流量和资源需求。这也为今后的下一代智能网络打下基础。
Mobile edge computing could also provide the enhanced location, augmented reality and Internet of Things services support. It gives those industries both a head start and time to adapt to new technologies before 5G networks begin to roll out.
MEC也为增强位置，增强现实，物联网服务提供支持。它也为这些行业在5G网络全面铺开前提供了一个良好的时机和开局。
Fog Computing
物计算
Fog computing, fog networking or merely “fogging”, is a term used to describe a decentralized computing infrastructure. It extends cloud computing (data center) to the edge of a network while also placing data, compute, storage and applications in the most logical and efficient place. This position happens between the cloud and the origin of the data, which is sometimes known as being placed “out in the fog.”
雾计算，雾网络或者雾，都是描述去中心化计算框架的术语。它将云计算（数据中心）延伸到网络的边缘的同时，也将数据，计算，存储，应用放到了最合乎逻辑也最高效的位置。这个位置介于云与数据源头之间，这也时常被称为“置于雾中”
As shown in the picture below “fog nodes” connect the edge devices with the cloud. These nodes are fog computing entities with processing and sensing capabilities.
图中的“雾节点”将边缘设备与云相互连接。这些节点就是拥有感知和处理能力的雾计算节点
The goal behind fog computing is to both extend cloud computing and services to the edge of a network and attempt to reduce the data transported to the cloud for processing, analysis and/or storage.
雾计算背后的目标是将云计算和服务拓展到网络边缘，并意图减少传输到云中心去处理分析和存储的数据量。
The data captured from IoT sensors and other devices are usually sent to the cloud to be analyzed and processed. However, these devices can often be much too far away geographically to respond in a useful amount of time. Fog computing can enable short term analysis and processes at the edge of a network so as to reduce the amount of data being sent back to the cloud.
IoT传感器和其他设备采集到的数据通常传输到中心云去分析处理。然而，这些（云计算）设备通常在地理位置上太远了，而无法做出符合时效的响应。雾计算通过在网络边缘进行短期数据处理分析，进而减少回传到云中心的数据量。
Cloudlets
微云
Cloudlets are mobility-enhanced, small scale cloud data centers located at the edge of a network. They represent the second tier of the three-tier hierarchy: IoT or edge device — Cloudlet — Cloud.
微云是指移动性增强的、小规模的、位于网络边缘的数据中心；通常位于“IoT边缘设备-微云-云”这样三层架构的中间层。
The purpose of cloudlets is to improve resource-intensive and interactive mobile applications by providing more capable computing resources with lower latency to mobile devices within close geographical proximity.This can then help to eliminate the latency delays traditionally associated with WAN cloud computing.
与移动设备地理位置上更近的、时延更低的微云，通过提供更强悍的计算资源，旨在增强资源密集型和交互式移动应用。相对于传统的通过无线接入的云计算，这种方式能显著降低延迟。
While 5G networks loiter on the horizon, cloudlets have been designed to support resource-intensive applications such as those for augmented reality, machine learning, speech recognition, and language processing.
随着5G网络喷薄欲出，微云也被设计成用于支援类似增强现实、机器学习、语音识别、语言处理这样的资源密集型应用。
Cloudlets will provide the needed assistance for 5G networks upon their arrival due to the increased demand that will come along with them. They would also need to be decentralized and widely dispersed in order to offer the greatest level of network coverage possible, this would also help with leveraging resources from nearby mobile computers.
微云根据5G网络以及随之而来的需求将提供必须的支持。他们也将星罗棋布的分散部署以最大程度上提升网络覆盖率，这种举措也有助于提升附近移动计算资源的利用率。
Micro Data Centers
微数据中心
As the growth of the Internet of Things continues to inspire the development of new smart devices and IoT sensors, a report from MarketsandMarkets suggests that the Micro data center solution sector could be worth a staggering $32 billion over the next two and half years. It is estimated that micro data centers will be most beneficial to SMEs that don’t have their own data centers as larger corporations will tend to have more resources and thus not need such solutions.
物联网的发展持续促进着智能设备和IoT传感器的发展。一份来自MarketsandMarkets 的报告显示微数据中心解决方案这块在接下来的2年半离将达到320亿美元的份额。为数据中心更有助于没有自建数据中心的中小企业；大型企业由于有更多资源而无需该类型解决方案。
So, what is the micro data center?
那么什么是微数据中心?
The Micro data centers are smaller, reach-level systems that provide all the essential components of a traditional data center. In certain edge computing applications, the micro data centers are much more suited than traditional data centers as they can typically be much smaller in size.
微数据中心是一个更小的，触手可及的系统，它提供了传统数据中心内所有必要的组件。由于微数据中心尺寸更小，对于一些特定的边缘计算应用，它比传统数据中心更为适用。
Due to the size, the micro data center can be deployed both inside and outside of rugged conditions. This makes them an ideal solution for edge computing as they can be deployed locally where the data source is and can be custom built to suit the requirements of those looking to implement them.
由于尺寸原因，微数据中心可以在恶劣条件下部署。由于它可以部署在任何数据产生的地方，以及可以按需定制，这使它成为了边缘计算的理想方案。
Cloud of Things
物云
Cloud of Things (CoT) is still an under-developed concept, but that shows a lot of promise. In a Cloud of Things, all processing power is taken from the extreme edge, at the end-user.
物云，仍是一个待势乘时的概念，但也已经初露头角。在物云中，所有的算力都集中在最边缘的终端用户侧。
We all have powerful devices in our hands, our mobiles and IoT devices in our homes. These devices are oftentimes underutilized. Although IoT devices are still low in terms of computational power, lots of new mobiles are extremely powerful.
手机、家中的物联网设备，这些功能强大的设备都触手可及。通常这些设备都未能充分利用。虽然IoT设备仍然算力低下，但大多数新款手机却算力极强。
These devices could be orchestrated to perform a cloud service at the edge. For example, a car driving through traffic, could send warning notifications to others about traffic, and try to re-arrange other routes, without the input from the user. Using mobile devices or IoT devices could provide cloud services right at the edge.
这些设备可以被重新编排，在边缘充当云服务。例如车流中穿行的车辆可以用户无干预的情况下向其他车辆发送路况信息，重新计算交通路线。使用移动设备、物联网设备可以就地提供服务。
The Cloud of Things is a similar concept as fog computing. In a CoT all IoT devices make up a virtualized cloud infrastructure. In the CoT, all the computation is performed by the IoT devices themselves which are pooled resources.
物云和雾计算概念相似。物云中，所有的物联网设备充当虚拟的云基础设施。在物云中，所有的计算都有化作算力池的雾计算设备本身完成。
There are new CoT concepts such as Nokia’s Sensing-as-a-Service (as shown in the picture below) which uses a pool of existing edge sensing infrastructure acting as cloud agents and which are located very close to the edge. These IoT sensors can offer real-time proccing and analysis of environmental data, without needing a “Cloud”.
物云中的新概念例如诺基亚提出的传感即服务 (图示)，利用了现有的贴近边缘的边缘传感基础设施池充当云代理；这些物联网传感器无需“云”即可提供环境数据的实时处理和分析。
Final Words
结语
We’ve now seen some of the edge computing technologies that are enabling next-generation network infrastructure. Innovations such as the continued development of the Internet of Things and 5G wireless communications networks will only remain feasible if the technologies in other areas such as mobile edge and fog computing are ready and able to provide a stable platform from which to innovate further.
至此我们已经看到一些列为下一代网络架构赋能的边缘计算技术。物联网和5G无线通信网络的持续发展等创新只有在移动边缘和雾计算等其他领域的技术准备就绪并能够提供一个稳定的平台以进一步创新的情况下才能保持可行。
MEC, fog computing, cloudlets, micro data centers, and the cloud of things will all have important roles to play when it comes to the future of network computing.* Their first test, however, will be when 5G is finally ready to be rolled out.*
谈到网络计算的未来时，MEC、雾计算，微云、微数据中心、物云都举足轻重。然而只有当5G真正铺开时，它们才将初试锋芒。
译自：https://www.lanner-america.com/blog/4-edge-computing-technologies-enabling-iot-ready-network-infrastructure/