IoT Services Deployment over Edge vs Cloud Systems: A Simulation-based Analysis

The choice between an Edge- or Cloud-based deployment along with other factors like the unpredictable mobility of devices, the cyber-physicality of the scenario, and the wireless nature of communications, significantly impact the service provision of Internet of Things (IoT) systems. A simulation approach encompassing all the aforementioned aspects is key for the functional and non-functional evaluation of IoT services before their actual deployment that could be time-consuming and error-prone. However, a 'ready-to-use' simulator which comprehensively deals with the cooperative nature of such services is missing. Therefore, in this paper, we first extend the EdgeCloudSim framework with novel functionalities and features, and then we present the simulation of a crowdsensing IoT service based on the extended simulator, considering both Edge- and Cloud-based deployments. The results provide useful feedbacks and insights about the considered case study and, above all, they show the benefits of a simulation-based approach in guiding designers towards the final IoT service deployment according to the expected service provision requirements.