The Green Computing Continuum: The OPERA Perspective

Cloud computing is an emerging paradigm in which users’ access to a shared pool of computing resources is dynamically allocated (i.e. ubiquitous computing service), depending on their specific needs. Such paradigm exploits the infrastructural capabilities of modern data centers to provide computational power and storage space required to satisfy modern application demands. The seamless integration of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Cloud infrastructures allows the effective processing of the huge amount of data collected by smart embedded systems, towards the creation of new services for the end users. However, trying to continuously increase data center capabilities comes at the cost of an increased energy consumption. The OPERA project aims at bringing innovative solutions to increase the energy efficiency of Cloud infrastructures, by leveraging on modular, high-density, heterogeneous and low-power computing systems, spanning data center servers and remote CPS. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions is demonstrated with key scenarios: a road traffic monitoring application, the deployment of a virtual desktop infrastructure, and the deployment of a compact data center on a truck.