From Cloud to Edge: A Minimalist Open-Source Architecture for Deterministic VM Image Distribution

From Cloud to Edge: A Minimalist Open-Source Architecture for Deterministic VM Image Distribution
von Dr. Walfred Tedeschi
am 02. Mai 2026

This presentation proposes a minimalist architecture for managing a distributed fleet of dedicated Linux/KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) edge nodes, each typically running a single, user-assigned virtual machine in an appliance-style model. Instead of deploying a full IaaS stack, the design separates centralized governance from local execution to reduce complexity while maintaining strong security and deterministic operation at the edge.

The control plane is built on OpenStack, leveraging Keystone for identity management, Glance for image lifecycle control, Barbican for centralized key management, and Ceph for encrypted image storage, while using alternative lightweight mechanisms for VM placement to preserve single-user determinism.

The approach is also compared with alternative solutions such as OpenNebula and Apache CloudStack, highlighting differences in architectural implementation, control-plane coupling, operational complexity, and their suitability for deterministic, appliance-style edge deployments.

The result is a secure, centrally governed distributed execution model optimized for simplicity, resilience, and real-world product deployment of controlled workloads at the edge.

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