Edge computing is transforming how industries process and manage data, enabling real-time processing, lower latency, and improved security. From IoT in factories to 5G networks, businesses demand flexible, secure solutions. Today, we’re excited to introduce SUSE Edge 3.1, the latest release of SUSE’s cloud-native edge platform. This update delivers deeper component integration, arm platform support, and much more.
Why SUSE Edge?
- SUSE Edge is a purpose-built solution designed specifically for edge environments, so customers don’t have to rely on repurposed legacy technology. With SUSE Edge, you’re free from hardware limitations and can integrate with the open-source tools of your choice.
- Simplify Operations: Centralize operations using Rancher and automate workflows with GitOps, allowing your ops teams to focus on value-added tasks.
- Security and Reliability: Built on SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 6.0, an immutable OS with transactional updates, SUSE Edge ensures enhanced security and stability. NeuVector provides Kubernetes security, safeguarding your data and clusters.
- Minimize Deployment Risks: SUSE’s edge-optimized Linux and Kubernetes technologies, paired with world-class support and consulting services, help you simplify edge infrastructure deployment while minimizing risks.
Key Benefits of SUSE Edge
- Flexibility: SUSE Edge adapts to wherever your organization is in its cloud-native journey, supporting incremental improvements without disruptions.
- Multiple Deployment Options: Whether you’re operating in disconnected environments, across multiple locations, or dealing with reduced connectivity or high latency, SUSE Edge offers flexible deployment methods to meet your needs.
- Scalability: Fully integrated with Rancher Prime, SUSE Edge supports GitOps workflows and zero-touch provisioning for bare-metal deployments, along with Elemental to onboard devices from remote locations without IT personnel.
- Edge Image Builder: This feature enables you to build and ship complete images, including OS, Kubernetes (RKE2/K3s), and applications, ready for deployment (helm charts).
Architecture and components of SUSE Edge
SUSE Edge leverages a robust suite of open-source technologies, with Linux as the operating system, Kubernetes as the platform for applications, and Rancher for management.
The platform’s architecture is divided into two main parts:
- Management Stack: Controls downstream clusters, manages applications using GitOps, and provides tools for logging, monitoring, and observability.
- Runtime Stack: Composed of workload clusters distributed across multiple locations, all managed by Rancher Prime.
SUSE Edge 3.1 basic architecture and components.
Key components in SUSE Edge 3.1:
SUSE Edge 3.1 components
Versions of the main components:
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What’s new in SUSE Edge 3.1?
The focus of this release has been improving integration, focus on arm architectures, and maintainability in general. Check out the new features:
- Extended Lifecycle: SUSE Edge 3.1 offers up to 24 months of combined solution lifecycle, providing longer-term support.
- Arm Architecture Support: SUSE Edge now supports bare-metal provisioning using CAPI/Metal3 for aarch64 servers, offering energy efficiency, better scalability, and optimized performance for edge computing and network functions virtualization (NFV) workloads.
- Edge Image Builder (EIB) 1.1: SUSE Edge now ships with an updated version of EIB, now supporting arm architecture, Kubernetes manifests are now applied in a systemd service instead of using the `/manifests` directory amongst many other new features.
- Observability powered by StackState. Rancher Prime now comes with new observability capabilities provided by StackState (technology preview for Edge).
- Full stack upgrade automation for GitOps workflows, in this release with the integration of Rancher Turtles the workflow and usability for CAPI improves and lowers the adoption barrier. Also, a new dedicated lifecycle/upgrade controller is introduced.
- Updated SLE Micro Images: Edge Image Builder generates up-to-date images for SLE Micro, streamlining OS and Kubernetes deployments.
- DHCP-less IP Management: Through the Metal3 IPAM Controller, manage workload clusters efficiently even in DHCP-less environments, improving network operations with optimized IP address management.
- Enhanced Edge Stack Validation: SUSE’s engineering team has introduced new testing procedures to ensure validated designs that lead to improved architectures.
- Improved UI for Validation Results: Access validated design results through a more user-friendly interface, simplifying the process of consulting and using the best architectures. – https://ci.edge.suse.com
Conclusions
SUSE Edge continues to evolve, helping customers adopt cloud-native technologies at the edge while simplifying operations. The SUSE Edge 3.1 release introduces arm support, enhanced GitOps workflows, CAPI integration, and longer support cycles, all aimed at accelerating your cloud-native edge journey.
Ready to explore the next generation of edge computing? Learn more about SUSE Edge 3.1 and how it can transform your business, come and talk with our team at Kubecon NA 2024 in Salt Lake City and Kubernetes on Edge Day. Or come participate and be hands-on with our experts at Rancher Day 2024.
Documentation & Blogs
SUSE Edge Documentation
Introducing Edge Image Builder
SLE Micro 6.0
Edge Technical Blogs
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