CHARTING YOUR IOT COURSE - events.windriver.com

CHARTING YOUR IOT COURSECritical Design Decisions on the Road to the Internet of Things

WHEN IT MATTERS, IT RUNS ON WIND RIVER

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Each iteration of the Internet brings immense opportunities. Graphical browsers

fueled e-commerce and the dot-com rush of the 1990s. Social media revolutionized

communication and content creation in the 2000s. And now, the Internet of Things (IoT)

is redefining how information is gathered, transmitted, and interpreted.

The potential of IoT is clearly vast. Gartner estimates that 26 billion IoT devices will be

connected by 20201, IDC estimates 28 billion2, and Cisco Systems estimates 50 billion3.

Whichever of these figures is closest to the truth, change is coming fast, and the influence

of IoT is increasingly visible around us.

To take advantage of the revolutionary opportunities of IoT, device manufacturers,

application developers, systems integrators, and enterprises need to understand the

multiple design issues that must be considered with IoT projects.

This paper explores the key decision points that companies entering the IoT space will

need to address, and describes how the Wind River® Helix™ portfolio of software, tools,

and services can help organizations harness the enormous potential of IoT to improve

and transform their businesses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Identifying the Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

IoT Infrastructure Design Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Operating System Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Data Management in the Cloud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Transforming Data into Actionable Insight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Designing with the Right Level of Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Addressing IoT Design Challenges: The Wind River Helix Portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

CHARTING YOUR IOT COURSE

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IDENTIFYING THE OPPORTUNITIES

For companies to be successful with IoT, key decision makers must

do more than recognize the general opportunity that is inherent

in the trend toward “connected everything .” They must identify

specific products, services, and business models that can drive

profitability . In addition, they must determine what data must be

gathered to make better business decisions .

The data being generated and the purposes it serves must add

value to both the customer and the infrastructure provider . Solutions

that are simply intriguing without justifying their cost to consumers

won’t gain long-term market traction, and implementations that

aren’t profitable can’t drive business success . Likewise, companies

charting their IoT course must define offerings that are a suitable

fit with the rest of the business .

IoT topologies create data intelligence across a range of elements

working together, as illustrated in Figure 1 . A key decision point

for companies setting out on their IoT course is to identify which

part (or parts) of this end-to-end topology are best suited to their

IoT vision and to the business as a whole .

The elements of this topology, from the outer edge inward, include

the following:

• Sensors and actuators: Sensors gather data and may trigger

actuators that generate electro-mechanical responses based on

those inputs .

• Devices: Served potentially by many diverse sets of sensors and

actuators, devices combine those inputs to perform meaningful

tasks .

• Systems: Drawing on the capabilities of multiple devices, sys-

tems unite those contributions toward specific higher-order

objectives .

• Networks: Connecting together various systems, networks

transmit data among various input points and the cloud .

• Cloud data: Acting both as repository and interchange medium

for information, cloud-resident data manages data for (and

facilitates action of) all parts of the topology .

Intelligence is accumulated as one moves from the periphery to

the core of this topology . From a development and production

point of view, the outer elements are more susceptible to

commoditization, but they have the advantage of being greater in

number . However, it is in the outer elements where decision and

action take place . In strategic terms, barriers to entry are lowest at

this level . Moving inward, the potential for more unique, higher-

value solutions increases, although there is less opportunity for

small-scale, niche providers . The inner topology elements are also

where IoT requirements get much more complex to meet various

market-specific demands .

IOT INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Companies entering the IoT space must map design considerations

to the specific requirements for their IoT devices, systems,

and infrastructure . For example, certain IoT systems might be

significantly constrained in terms of compute resources, physical

space, power, or other quantities . Other IoT devices, systems, and

infrastructures might be safety-critical and will need to be highly

reliable for many years .

Figure 1: Multi-element IoT topology


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Wind River Rocket

Wind River Pulsar Linux

Wind River Simics (apply to all nodes of this topology)

VxWorks, technology & market profiles

Wind River Linux, technology & market profiles

Certified products & certification evidence


Wind River Intelligent Device Platform XT


Wind River Titanium Server

Titanium Cloud partner ecosystem

CG OpenStack extensions

Carrier GradeLinux

VxWorks

Wind River Helix App Cloud

Wind River Helix Lab Cloud

Wind River Helix Device Cloud

These and many other market- and application-specific consi-

derations must be addressed in the course of meeting IoT

opportunities and challenges . Some key aspects of that process

are addressed in the remainder of this section .

The Operating System Question

Typically, IoT-connected entities require some sort of operating

system . The choice among various options, which are illustrated in

Figure 2, depends on a range of factors .

Microkernels

Microkernels are well suited to the needs of very small footprints,

while at the same time meeting performance, reliability, and real-

time requirements for even critical sensors and devices . Moreover,

their simplicity enables them to be certified where necessary

at a relatively low cost . Some of the target IoT use cases for a

microkernel include wearables and sensor hubs .

Real-Time Operating Systems

Offering a more robust feature set than a microkernel, a real-time

operating system (RTOS) provides real-time behavior for relatively

more complex IoT devices and networks . The safety, security,

reliability, scalability, and performance of RTOSes are well proven

with the most demanding embedded systems for airplanes,

spacecraft, automobiles, and medical devices . RTOSes are also

readily certifiable . An RTOS is often the only viable operating

environment for mission- and life-critical devices .

Embedded Linux

Developers who are more concerned with using open source

software will find embedded Linux a great fit for IoT . A general-

purpose embedded Linux distribution is used in many IoT

implementations today . For critical communications infrastructures

that require always-on service, Carrier Grade Linux is an ideal

solution . Carrier Grade Linux distributions comply with enhanced

specifications for availability, scalability, manageability, and service

response to meet specialized needs such as those of many

networking and communications systems .

Many IoT applications are developed for application-ready

platforms, in which case the operating system is already determined

and pre-integrated into hardware systems . Most application-ready

platforms, such as gateways, are purpose-built . With application-

ready platforms, designers focus on application development and

extracting machine data for analytics . Likewise, those developing

for the cloud may be OS-agnostic .

Data Management in the Cloud

To support seamless connectivity and communication between

devices and the cloud, some level of OS integration with a data

management system is required, as illustrated in Figure 3 .

The device-management system is a centralized console that

serves to control and manage edge devices . Device-side APIs

enable extensibility to diverse types of embedded software


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• Very small footprint• Lightweight threads • Near-zero interrupt latency• Hard real-time capability

Microkernel

• Hard real-time capability• Safety, security, ultra-reliability• Extensibility & performance• Readily certifiable

RTOS

• Open source• Carrier grade• High performance• Extensibility

Linux

Figure 2: Operating system options for IoT

operating on the edge device, while cloud-side APIs provide for

secured connectivity to various big-data stores and enterprise

IT infrastructures, as well as data sharing with other cloud

applications .

Business decisions related to data management must consider

factors such as the following:

• Data ingress and storage: Architects must consider whether

or not they will connect to live streaming data sources, whether

data will be stored to a repository, and the positioning of the

analytics engine . Security plays an important role here .

• Data egress and destinations: In determining what data is to

be output, one must consider that each piece of data passed

out and each destination target adds cost and complexity to

the system as a whole . Security plays an important role here as

well .

• Protocols used: The selection of protocols utilized by the solu-

tion has direct bearing on system extensibility and security, as

well as on bandwidth and other connectivity requirements .

Data management considerations will also arise with regard to

the characteristics of the ultimate data source . Large networks

of inexpensive sensors will require back ends that can tolerate

significant numbers of failures at the edge . Accordingly, reliability

of systems comprised of unreliable components will become a

greater concern, in many cases, than the present common focus

on endpoint user experience .

Transforming Data into Actionable Insight

It has been said that data is the new oil, a metaphor extended

by the observation that both must be refined before they can

be effectively utilized and value extracted . Ultimately, data must

be harnessed, analyzed, and transformed so that it can provide

benefits to both the consumer and the producer of the network

or device .

Therein lies both the greatest opportunity and the greatest

challenge associated with IoT, and as such, it is fundamental to

capturing opportunity in this emergent field . IoT applications and

implementations have promise either to incrementally optimize or

to fundamentally transform existing business models .

In terms of optimization, better decision support can maximize

the value and ROI of existing assets, investments, and practices .

For example, more robust information from sensors placed

throughout supply and distribution chains can enable more

efficient applications of resources, more strategic pricing, and

more effective distribution of products and services . Accordingly,

such optimization directly enhances profitability .

IoT can be a true disruptor that will transform businesses by

providing access to new revenue streams and causing shifts to

new business models . Indeed, companies that never expected to

develop connected systems could benefit from IoT .

Designing with the Right Level of Security

Both consumers and producers recognize the need for robust

security measures associated with IoT business models, and

the necessity of incorporating just enough security is a primary

consideration . The degree of security must be high enough

to address all foreseeable threat scenarios, flexible enough to

respond to emerging ones, and low enough to enable favorable

cost, extensibility, and interoperability .


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Device Cloud Agent

API OperatingSystem

API

Device Management

Embedded Software

Cloud-Side App Big Data and Enterprise IT

Figure 3: Data management in the cloud

Security models and techniques for IoT must accommodate

devices’ inherent resource constraints . Just as mobile phones are

unable to use many of the security approaches and applications

that are common for PCs and servers, small-footprint IoT devices

will be limited even further . This set of considerations creates

challenges for solution providers as they identify new threat

vectors and respond appropriately . Most aspects of security can

be considered within three categories:

• Installation environment: The area and circumstances where

IoT elements will operate affect decisions such as what physical

protection against tampering and theft is required .

• Access and connectivity: The types of potential connectivity

and associated protocols (e .g ., Internet access, Bluetooth, near-

field communication) suggest specific security measures to be

taken .

• Data storage: Various types of data, their sensitivity, and regu-

latory requirements entail different types of security measures

for data at rest, as does the storage medium and whether it is

local or remote .

Another way of conceiving the security requirements for IoT

is to consider the requirements at various stages of solution

development and operation, as illustrated in Figure 4 .

Correcting security issues earlier in the solution lifecycle is more

cost-effective, since once the solution is in the field, deficiencies

may be difficult or impossible to correct . This effect is intensified

by the high number of low-cost units deployed in IoT applications,

their remote installation points, and the long periods of service

that are typical . Accordingly, the potential for losses in terms of

credibility and customer confidence can be severe .

Security must also protect IoT solutions throughout the stages of

operation . At boot time, even simple devices must often provide

a trusted environment where unintended (and possibly malicious)

code cannot execute . During extended run times, intrusions, data

leaks, and other compromises must be prevented . In addition,

during power-down and unpowered states, data at rest (even

transitorily so) must be protected from unauthorized access .

ADDRESSING IOT DESIGN CHALLENGES:

THE WIND RIVER HELIX PORTFOLIO

Wind River Helix is an umbrella portfolio of software, technologies,

tools, and services that help organizations address the design

challenges presented by IoT . The Helix portfolio covers the full

spectrum of issues faced in building out an IoT infrastructure, from

the edge of the network with sensors and devices to the heart of

the cloud computing environments in enterprise business systems,

as shown in Figure 5 .

• Sensors and actuators: Wind River Rocket™ is our best-in-

class, scalable RTOS for 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), ideal

for building sensors, wearables, industrial controllers, wireless

gateways, and other resource-constrained smart, connected

devices . Rocket is part of Wind River Helix App Cloud, giving

developers all the tools and technologies they need to start

building IoT applications in minutes . Wind River also offers

Wind River Pulsar™ Linux, a small, high-performance, secure,

and manageable Linux distribution that is available at no addi-

tional cost on hardware boards from our trusted partners .


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Prevent malicious code in development

Design

Prevent attacks and data leaksduring operation

Run Time

Prevent untrusted binaries from executing

Boot

Protect onboard data at rest

Power-Down

Figure 4: Security at various IoT stages

• Devices and machines: Wind River offers both VxWorks® and

Wind River Linux . Both support a range of add-on profiles that

provide optional run-time features and tools for specialized

needs, and both support special certified usages and provide

certification evidence as needed .

• Gateways: An application-ready platform for gateways,

Wind River Intelligent Device Platform XT, enables custom-

ers to rapidly build gateway applications for robust connectivity

and interoperability with new networks and data sources . It also

facilitates secure data storage and management in the cloud .

• Networks: Wind River Titanium Server is the industry’s first

commercially available carrier grade solution for Network

Functions Virtualization (NFV) . Using Carrier Grade Linux as its

foundation, Titanium Server meets the rigorous performance,

reliability, and security demands of next-generation comput-

ing and communications networks . Both Carrier Grade Profile

for Wind River Linux and Titanium Server deliver high perfor-

mance and highly reliable networking options for critical com-

munications infrastructures .

• Clouds: The Wind River Helix Cloud suite provides anytime,

anywhere access to tools, labs, and management platforms to

simplify, streamline, and automate how organizations create

and run IoT systems . Helix Cloud helps teams build IoT systems

more quickly and manage the device lifecycle more effectively .

Wind River Helix Device Cloud for device management will

soon be joined by Wind River Helix App Cloud for remote

application development abstracted away from the target

device, as well as Wind River Helix Lab Cloud, which emu-

lates specific target devices, machines, and complex systems

for 24/7, on-demand access to a virtual lab .

This robust portfolio of proven and fully supported software

products and technologies across the development, implementa-

tion, and management lifecycle tackles the many complexities and

challenges of IoT inherent to building and maintaining end-to-end

IoT solutions . As a result, the speed and flexibility of development

is dramatically enhanced, optimizing cost and time-to-market .


7 | White Paper

Wind River Rocket


Wind River Simics (apply to all nodes of this topology)

VxWorks, technology & market profiles

Wind River Linux, technology & market profiles

Certified products & certification evidence


Wind River Intelligent Device Platform XT


Wind River Titanium Server

Titanium Cloud partner ecosystem

CG OpenStack extensions

Carrier GradeLinux

VxWorks

Wind River Helix App Cloud

Wind River Helix Lab Cloud

Wind River Helix Device Cloud

Figure 5: Elements of Wind River Helix

CONCLUSION

The full scope of change, both evolutionary and revolutionary, that

IoT’s emergence will foster remains to be seen . Change is certainly

upon us, and companies are embracing both the opportunities

and the challenges that come with IoT as the status quo .

For more than 30 years, Wind River has been an integral part of

intelligent connected systems that range from consumer devices

in the home to manufacturing on the factory floor to exploration

in deep space . From the operating system to development,

management, networking, and the cloud, Wind River has con-

sistently helped innovators meet the latest challenges .

Now, as companies of all types and sizes chart their IoT course,

Wind River continues to provide the technologies, tools, and

thought leadership that will foster their success .


1 www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2684616

2 www.idc.com/downloads/idc_market_in_a_minute_iot_infographic.pdf

3 www.cisco.com/web/solutions/trends/iot/portfolio.html

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the Internet of Things . The company’s technology is found in more than 2 billion devices, backed by world-class professional services and customer support . Wind River delivers the software and expertise that enable the innovation and deployment of safe, secure, and reliable intelligent systems .

©2015 Wind River Systems, Inc . The Wind River logo is a trademark of Wind River Systems,Inc ., and Wind River and VxWorks are registered trademarks of Wind River Systems, Inc . Rev . 11/2015

Learn more about how Wind River enables

IoT at helix .windriver .com .

www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2684616

www.idc.com/downloads/idc_market_in_a_minute_iot_infographic.pdf

www.cisco.com/web/solutions/trends/iot/portfolio.html

http://www.windriver.com/products/helix/

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