Work

On the Use of Containers for LoRaWAN Node Virtualization: Practice and Performance Evaluation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper investigates the virtualization of LoRaWAN end nodes through Linux containers (LXC) to improve scalability, flexibility, and resource management. By leveraging lightweight Dockerbased virtualization, we break down the core functions of the LoRaWAN node, comprising the application, LoRaWAN, and LoRa layers, into modular containers. In this work a fully virtualized endnode is demonstrated. The obtainable performance are not only compared against the standard approach that leverages on LoRaWANcompliant module, but also against an emulated solution that mimics the desired functinalities purely in software. A controlled, uniform testbed, exploiting the capability of virtual machine hypervisor to change the way the underlying hardware is abstracted to guest environments, is considered. Key metrics, including resource utilization and latency, are purposely defined and evaluated. The results underscore the potential of container technologies to transform the deployment and management of communication solution targeting Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios not only for the infrastructure but also for end devices, with implications for future advancements in wireless network virtualization.

Source: Electronics

DOI: 10.3390/electronics14081568

Authors: Hossein Khalilnasl, Paolo Ferrari, Alessandra Flammini, Emiliano Sisinni

Institution: University of Brescia

Language: English

Topic: IoT Networks and Protocols

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896