Stratus Technologies Unveils Edge Computing Strategy and Solutions

Edge Computing Strategy Addresses Need of > 90 % of Industrial Companies

Stratus Technologies unveiled its edge computing strategy, direction, and solutions at IoT Tech Expo, focused on addressing the need of over 90 percent of industrial companies, according to ARC Advisory Group research, seeking a simplified edge infrastructure that can be remotely managed. This strategy includes the latest version of Stratus’ flagship product, ftServer, along with a preview of a converged edge system, which offers remote management services in an industrial form factor. Suited for users in industrial automation (IA) or in distributed enterprises deploying Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications, these solutions address the continuous availability and remote management of mission-critical edge applications in the data center, on the plant floor, or at the network edge.

By delivering a series of high availability edge compute solutions, Stratus helps to address the increasing demand for more intelligent systems at the edge, as demonstrated by a new worldwide market report by ARC Advisory Group. In that study, 91 percent of IA users surveyed stated having better systems and connectivity at the edge will enable improved real-time decision making. Yet, more than 90 percent also indicated that, as edge computing grows, organizations will need a simplified edge infrastructure that can be remotely managed.

To address this market demand, Stratus has released version nine of ftServer, its self-monitoring and self-diagnosing edge server. The company will also introduce in 2018 a new family of multi-function, virtualized, converged edge systems, designed to help meet the users requirements of operations technologies (OT). The combination of ftServer and the forthcoming OT systems provides a comprehensive set of edge solutions suited for customers deploying IA, IIoT or IoT applications. This set of edge solutions and Stratus’ overall vision for multi-tiered edge computing align with the outcomes of the ARC research report in which OT end users confirmed that their IIoT deployments will be comprised of a mix of edge and cloud-based technologies. In fact, approximately 60 percent of survey respondents said they plan to take a hybrid approach by balancing future investments in the edge with smaller investments in the cloud.

Craig Resnick, ARC Advisory Group, commented, “Operational issues, such as improving asset performance management to improve both production as well as reduce unplanned downtime, will drive end users to deploy edge computing. And, the companies who are quick to take advantage of self-managed, edge computing infrastructures will be better able to unlock the data that has long been stranded inside machines and processes. They’ll also be better able to quickly identify production inefficiencies, compare product quality against manufacturing conditions and pinpoint potential safety, production, or environmental issues. Remotely managing this edge infrastructure will immediately connect operators with off-site experts to more quickly resolve, or better yet avoid, downtime events. The benefit is freeing operations people and IT staff to perform their respective roles versus distracting them from their fields of expertise.”