Image Distribution in an Edge Computing System

A method (1100) of pre-emptively positioning images at hosts in a mesh computing system, wherein the mesh computing system is operably coupled to a central registry that holds multiple images for use by the hosts of the mesh computing system, wherein the mesh computing system comprises:

• a swarm leader;
• a plurality of hosts located at a respective edge node in the mesh computing system, the plurality of hosts comprising:
• a first host that has a first registry comprising a first image storage repository and a first application programming interface, API;
• and
• a second host that has a second registry comprising a second image storage repository and a second API;
• the method (1100) comprising:
• at the swarm leader, identifying (1120) an image, from the multiple images, as being an image that is likely to be used by hosts in the mesh computing system other than the first host and second host;
• at the first host, downloading (1130) the image from the central registry to the first image storage repository;
• at the second host, downloading (1140) the image from the central registry to the second image storage repository;
• and
• at a third host of the plurality of hosts, downloading (1170) the image from the registry of the first host or from the registry of the second host;
• and
• at the third host, creating (1180) a container from the downloaded image.

A mesh computing system, configured to pre-emptively position images at hosts, for subsequent retrieval from the hosts and for a creation of containers from the images, the mesh computing system comprising hosts located in edge nodes of the mesh computing system, the mesh computing system operably coupled to a central registry that holds the images, the mesh computing system comprising a swarm leader configured to:

• identify (1020) a need in a first host at a first edge node to run an image, the image being held in the central registry;
• identify (1030) a second host at a second edge node of the mesh computing system;
• and
• command (1040) a download of the image from the central registry to the second host, via at least one wireless link of the mesh computing system.

A mesh computing system, configured to pre-emptively position images at hosts located in edge nodes of the mesh computing system, for subsequent retrieval from the hosts and for a creation of containers from the images, the mesh computing system comprising a swarm leader and operably coupled to a central registry that holds multiple images for use at the hosts, wherein the mesh computing system comprises:

• a first host, of the plurality of hosts, having a first registry that comprises a first image storage repository and a first application programming interface, API;
• and
• a second host, of the plurality of hosts, having a second registry that comprises a second image storage repository and a second API;
• a swarm leader, configured to:
• identify (1120) an image, from the multiple images, as being an image that is likely to be used by hosts in the mesh computing system other than the first host and second host;
• command the first host to download (1130) the image from the central registry to the first image storage repository;
• command the second host to download (1140) the image from the central registry to the second image storage repository;
• and
• a third host of the plurality of hosts, the third host configured to:
• download (1170) the image from the registry of the first host or from the registry of the second host;
• and
• create (1180) a container from the downloaded image.