VMware Edge Compute Stack is an edge-optimized runtime and orchestration platform for frictionless management of edge apps and infrastructure across many sites with limited resources. It runs operational workloads, including real-time applications and its simplified operations reduce complexity and cost. The flexible platform supports ever-changing edge computing and application needs. The purpose of the document is to provide a high-level overview of current Edge Compute architecture and an in-depth explanation and design recommendations for the solution components.

Purpose and Intended Audience

This reference architecture guide is intended for infrastructure administrators, architects, and application operators who want to design, deploy, and manage VMware ECS at hundreds to thousands of sites. It also aspires to achieve the following objectives:

  1. Demonstrate VMware thought leadership in delivering solutions that solve a variety of edge computing needs across a few different industries.

  2. Illustrate flexibility of edge platform architectures, trade-offs, and relativity to edge application architecture decisions.

  3. Provide updates to previously published VMware content focused on the edge and consolidate concepts into one holistic solution. Previous and related content:

    1. vSAN 2 Node Cluster Guide

    2. Tanzu Edge Solution Reference Architecture

  4. Present focused use cases for retail, manufacturing, and utilities.

Introduction to VMware Edge Compute Stack (ECS)

Application deployments are accelerating, and organizations are distributing workloads to the cloud while simultaneously extending out to the edge. Edge-native apps are emerging as a new type of workload and must run at the edge to perform as intended. AR/VR, connected vehicles, frictionless retail checkout, and dynamic manufacturing processes are some examples of digital experiences driving innovation at the edge. More and more organizations need to deliver modern edge-native workloads and the transformation has been evident in the retail, manufacturing, automotive, and energy sectors.

VMware ECS consists of an edge runtime and orchestration platform designed for frictionless management of edge applications and infrastructure across many sites.