Blockchain-Supported Cloud Architecture for Software-Defined Industrial IoT

Abstract

The recent development of industrial Internet of things (IIoT) and the huge data explosion from the smart devices create a major concern to the data centers (DCs). Although few dedicated approaches exist, efficient data management is still a big question. High availability, low latency, optimized response time, real time data delivery are the major concern in IIoT. To address this issue, this chapter discussed cloud architecture that supports blockchain with Software-defined networking (SDN) enabled IIoT (SD-IIoT). Software-defined networking (SDN) is an emerging network architecture, which separates the control logic from the hardware switches and router. With this separation, the network layer devices turn into packet forwarding devices and the control logic transferred to a central entity called control plane (CP). The proposed architecture based 170on blockchain technology, provides a secured, and on-demand access to the most essential and computing resources in IIoT network. Similarly, blockchain is a promising technology that carries no transaction cost that allows passing the information in a fully automated environment and a safer manner. During transaction, one party initiates the process by creating a block. The created block is verified by thousands of computers distributed around the Internet, which later added to a chain after verification. Particularly, this chapter discusses a cloud architecture in which the computing resources available nearer to the IIoT network through edge computing. Further, large amounts of data can access securely with minimum latency, with the help of both SDN and blockchain techniques.