Dell and the Linux Foundation jointly deliver a new, open IOT platform

Dell and the Linux Foundation jointly deliver a new, open IOT platform

​The Linux Foundation is announcing EdgeX Foundry, an open source project for a common open framework for IoT edge computing.  Basically, it's a platform for tying together interoperable IOT components to simplify and accelerate enterprise and Industrial IoT. The initiative is aligned around a common goal: the simplification and standardization of

Enterprise and Industrial IoT edge computing.

Dell is seeding EdgeX Foundry with its FUSE source code base under Apache 2.0.  This is the end-result of ongoing work by multiple companies including VMware's project ICE, started before the EMC-Dell merger.

The EdgeX Foundry project contribution consists of over a dozen microservices and over 125,000 lines of code and was architected with feedback from hundreds of technology providers and end users.  

Dell's Jason Shepherd told this reporter that Dell recognized the project would be more successful if it was hosted by a neutral and open source organization such as the Linux Foundation.  Wide acceptance and achieving a critical mass was also important.

"Its called EdgeX Foundry because it's like Cloud Foundry [™] for the IOT edge," Shepherd said,  "with your choice of any OS, any silicon,  and loosely coupled micro-services to scale up or down.  It can run Java next to JS,"  and other languages as well.

Shepherd explained, "EdgeX is also designed to scale down to low foot-print devices like sensors or consumer appliances or even smart phones. It can even run on routers."

The value proposition is simplicity for developers and companies trying to offer new IOT products and services.  "Our goal is to enable companies in the [IOT] ecosystem to add value quickly and not reinvent everything in the middle, which is a zero-sum game."

The FUSE source code contribution consists of more than a dozen microservices and over 125,000 lines of code and was architected with feedback from hundreds of technology providers and end users to facilitate interoperability between existing connectivity standards and commercial value-add such as edge analytics, security, system management and services.

Shepherd added, "It is actually very similar to a project Google was doing to solve part of the problem space . But they decided to collapse their project into ours to broaden the community effort."

"One of the key factors holding back IoT designs in the enterprise is that there are too many

choices to safely and easily implement a system that will provide a return on investment in a

reasonable timeframe," said Mike Krell, Lead IoT Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Hannover Messe

Live demonstrations of the EdgeX platform will be on display at Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany from April 24-28, 2017. The main EdgeX demo will be at the Dell Technologies kiosk in the Industrial Internet Consortium Pavilion (Hall 8, Stand C24).

“Success in Internet of Things is dependent on having a healthy ecosystem that can deliver

interoperability and drive digital transformation,” said Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of The

Linux Foundation. “EdgeX Foundry is aligning market leaders around a common framework, which will drive IoT adoption and enable businesses to focus on developing innovative use cases.”

Founding members include: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Alleantia, Analog Devices,

Bayshore Networks, Beechwoods Software, Canonical, ClearBlade, CloudPlugs,

Cloud of Things, Cumulocity, Davra Networks, Dell, Device Authority, Eigen Innovations,

EpiSensor, FogHorn Systems, ForgeRock, Great Bay Software, IMS Evolve, IOTech, IoTium, KMC Controls, Kodaro, Linaro, MachineShop, Mobiliya, Mocana, Modius, NetFoundry, Neustar, Opto 22, relayr, RevTwo, RFMicron, Sight Machine, SoloInsight, Striim, Switch Automation,Two Bulls, V5 Systems, Vantiq, VMware and ZingBox. Industry affiliate members include: Cloud Foundry Foundation, EnOcean Alliance, Mainflux, Object Management Group, Project Haystack and ULE Alliance.