OT Container Orchestration via Worker and Proxy Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial control systems in OT environments lack efficient management and orchestration capabilities similar to those in IT environments, limiting the ability to coordinate operations, provision, deploy, and maintain OT assets across their lifecycles.
Innovation Solution
Integration of specialized hardware and software control systems within industrial control systems to enable participation in container orchestration operations, using worker nodes and proxy nodes to bridge the gap between IT and OT systems, allowing for bi-directional communication and coordination with container orchestration systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If container orchestration systems are integrated into OT environments, then management and orchestration capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces worker nodes and proxy nodes as intermediary components that bridge IT container orchestration systems and OT control systems. These intermediaries translate and coordinate operations between the two environments, enabling sophisticated management capabilities without directly complicating the core OT devices. The worker nodes manage container lifecycles while proxy nodes handle communication protocols, isolating complexity from the OT control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: master nodes for orchestration coordination, worker nodes for container management on OT devices, and proxy nodes for protocol translation. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, improving overall manageability while distributing complexity across multiple specialized units rather than concentrating it in a single system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If worker nodes and proxy nodes are added to bridge IT and OT systems, then coordination capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Worker nodes are designed to perform multiple functions including container deployment, health monitoring, log collection, and coordinate with both master nodes and proxy nodes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby improving coordination capability while limiting the increase in overall system complexity through consolidated design.
3Reliability
If automatic updates and health monitoring are implemented, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Worker nodes continuously monitor the health status of containers and OT devices, providing feedback to master nodes. This feedback mechanism enables automatic updates and failover procedures only when necessary, rather than continuous operations. The system adjusts its monitoring and update activities based on actual system state, improving reliability while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from constant operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include receiving, via a first computing node, a first pod from a second computing node. The method may also include retrieving a first image file that may include a first set of containers from a registry based on the first pod. The first set of containers may cause a control system to halt operations. The method may then involve generating a first package based on the first set of containers and storing the first package in a filesystem, receiving a second pod from the second computing node, and retrieving a second image file having a second set of containers from the registry. The second pod may include the second set of containers may cause the control system to update software components. The method may also involve generating a second package based on the second set of containers and storing the second package in the filesystem.