October 3, 2024 • 32 mins
In today's rapidly evolving technology landscape, businesses increasingly turn to network edge solutions to meet the demands of real-time data processing, enhanced security, and improved user experiences. But deploying these solutions comes with its own set of challenges, including latency issues, bandwidth constraints, and need for robust infrastructure.
This podcast episode explores the world of network edge computing, and the unique challenges businesses face when deploying these advanced solutions. We discuss the critical features of network edge devices and how AI can help drive efficiency. Additionally, we examine the specific challenges and demands industries encounter and how they can overcome them.
Join us as we explore these ideas with:
CK Chou, Product Manager, CASwell
Christina Cardoza, Editorial Director, insight.tech
CK answers our questions about
- The move to the network edge
- Network edge devices built for success
- Moving to AI at the network edge
- Addressing network edge challenges
- Overcoming the increased demand
- Implementing network edge devices
- Partnering on performance and power
Related Content
To learn more about the network edge, read AI Everywhere—From the Network Edge to the Cloud. For the latest innovations from CASwell, follow them on LinkedIn.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
(upbeat instrumental music)
- Hello and welcome to"insight.tech Talk,"
where we explore the latest IoT, AI, edge,
and network technologytrends and innovations.
I'm your host, Christina Cardoza,
(00:21):
Editorial Director of insight.tech,
and today we're taking on the conversation
to the network edge with CK from CASwell.
But before we get started,let's get to know our guest.
Ck what can you tell us about yourself
and what you do at CASwell?
- Hi Christina, hi everyone.
My name is Ck, with over10 years of experience
in CASwell for product management.
My main focus has beenon serving customers
(00:44):
in Europe and the Middle East.
Over the years my mission isto build strong relationships
with clients across these regions,
ensuring that the solutions from CASwell
meet their specific needs and standards.
And about CASwell, originallybegan as a division
dedicated to networksecurity applications.
(01:07):
Over time our expertise and focus grew,
leading us to branch outand establish ourselves
as a standalone company in 2007.
Over the years CASwell hasplaced a strong emphasis on R&D
to stay at the forefront oftechnology and innovation.
(01:28):
However, we were notsatisfied as only a player
for networking, so expanded our business
into information andoperation applications.
I should say that ourjourney from a small division
to an independent company wasn'tjust about getting bigger,
it was about getting better at what we do.
(01:49):
Nowadays, CASwell is a leadinghardware solution provider
for IT and OT industry in Taiwan,
specializing in design,engineering, and manufacturing
of not only networking appliance,
but also industrial equipment,edge computing device,
(02:11):
and advanced edge AI solutionswhich can meet the demand
for the current modern applications.
- Great, and I'm looking forward
to digging into some of that hardware.
But before we jump into that,
I want to start the conversationtrying to understand
a little bit more of why companies
are moving to the network edge.
I like how you said in your introduction,
(02:32):
you're trying to stay atthe forefront of technology
and innovation and getbetter at what you do.
And I think a lot of businesses are trying
to do the same and they look to CASwell
to help them along that journey.
But why are they movingto the network edge today,
and what challenges are theyfacing on their journey?
- If we are talkingabout the edge computing,
(02:52):
we all know that it is allabout handling data right
where it is created insteadof sending everything
to the central server.
This means faster responseand less internal traffic,
which means it is perfect for things
that need instant reactionslike manufacturing,
retail, transportation,financial services, and etcetera.
(03:17):
Let me say it in this way.
Imagine you are in a self-driving car
and something unexpectedhappens on the road.
You need your car to react instantly
because every millisecond counts, okay?
You cannot afford a delay waiting for data
to travel to a distant server and back.
(03:38):
It's not like waitingfor a loading sandbox
when you're using your computer, right?
In self-driving scenarios any delays
could mean life or death.
This is just an example whereedge computing comes in,
handling data right atthe source to make those
split-second decisions.
(04:00):
And of course, it's notjust about the speed,
it's also about keepingyour information safe.
If sensitive data likeyour financial information
can be processed locallyinstead of being sent
over the internet to the central server
there's a lower chance of itbeing intercepted or hacked.
(04:21):
The less your data travelsaround the safer it stays.
This kind of localized processingis also super important
in other areas like health care,
which need instant diagnostic results,
machines in a factory detecting problems.
By processing data onthe spot edge computing
(04:42):
help keep everything runningsmoothly, even in place
where internet connectionsmight be unreliable.
So, in short, edge computing is
all about speed,security, and reliability.
It brings the power ofdata processing closer
to where it's needed most,whether it's in your car
(05:06):
or your doctor's officeor on the factory floor.
But from what I hear fromsome of our customers
moving to the networkedge is not always easy.
It's a big step and comes withits own set of challenges.
Companies face thingslike increased complexity
in managing systems,higher infrastructure cost,
(05:29):
limited processing power, datamanagement issue, and more.
Despite these challenges thebenefits of edge computing
are too significant to ignore.
It can really boost theinfrastructure performance,
improve security, andsave the overall cost,
(05:50):
and eventually making it worth the effort
to overcome all those hurdles.
- Yeah, absolutely.
I can definitely see theneed for network edge
and edge computing with all the demands
of the real-time dataprocessing, like you mentioned,
the enhanced security,improving user experiences.
But I feel like a lot oftimes when we discuss the edge
(06:11):
it feels very abstract.
We know all of the benefits
and why we should be movingthere, but how do we move there?
Is there a network edgedevice, for instance,
that is able to help us move to the edge
and get all of these benefits,what does that look like?
- Challenges that I mentioned earlier
(06:31):
make moving to the edge seemexpensive and complicated,
but if companies can havereliable edge devices integrated
it can provide innovative, dependable,
and affordable hardwarefeatures to help the companies
to overcome these challenges.
So, they can allocatetheir limited resources
(06:54):
and focus more on building and managing
their infrastructure,maintaining their data,
and improving the security,or training their staff.
That's why companies need to work closely
with the edge deviceprovider, like CASwell.
Our customers can always count on us
(07:14):
because we design the rightequipment for the right use case
and ensure the edge devices are the key
for their edge journeyand make their transition
to the edge smoother and easier.
So, at the end of the day,having the right device
with the right features are essential,
but it's only with theright partner, like CASwell.
(07:38):
We support them from thehardware perspective,
allowing companies to focusmore on their specialization.
Each party plays its ownrole, enabling companies
to truly do more with thisin their edge journey.
- I know you mentionedobviously it's important
to have the right features,reliable, affordable hardware,
(07:59):
and that helps you buildand manage infrastructure
and maintain that datathat's really important,
but can you talk a little bitmore about what those features
and hardware capabilities look like?
When companies are lookingfor a network edge device,
what type of capabilitiesis really going to
bring them success?
- Okay, it is a tricky question for me.
(08:19):
If I'm talking about my dream edge device
it needs to be small and compact,
also packed with multipleconnection options
like SNA, Wi-Fi, and 5Gfor different applications.
And it would also be niceto have a rack design
that can operate in harsh environment
(08:41):
and handle a right range of temperature
if users want to install the equipment
in stony cold mountains or hot deserts.
Also, offer powerful processingbut consume low power.
And of course, the mostimportant thing is the cost
for this all-in-one boxneed to be extremely low.
(09:02):
Getting all that in onedevice sounds perfect, right?
But do you really thinkthat even be possible?
Okay, I can tell you thetruth is companies at the edge
don't really need an all-in-one box.
What they really need is adevice with the right features
for their specificenvironment and application,
(09:26):
and that's what CASwell is all about.
We have a product linewhich can provide a variety
of choices from the basicmodels to high-end solutions
and from IT to OT applications.
Whether it's for asmall office, a factory,
or a remote location wehave got options designed
(09:46):
for different conditions and requirements.
So, with the right partnercompanies can easily find
the right edge devicewithout paying for features
they don't really need, okay?
Moving to the edge computingcertainly costs a lot,
so we need to do it smart and efficient.
(10:06):
The idea is to ensure that everyedge player can get exactly
what they need tooptimize their operations
and stay ahead of this game.
So, sorry that there's no certain answer
for your question here.
In my opinion that if anedge device that can offer
(10:27):
the right features, right capabilities
with an affordable costfor the specific use case,
then it's just a good edgedevice that we are looking for.
- Yeah, absolutely.
No, I love that businesses or companies,
they don't necessarilyneed an all-in-one box.
I think so many times thebusinesses are focused on finding
(10:50):
something that is cost effective
that tries to meet all their needs,
and they sort of lose sight ofwhat their needs actually are
and how a device can help them
and the benefits in the long run.
So, that's definitely great,
and I want to get into howpartnerships work with CASwell
and as well as the different product lines
(11:11):
that you do have a little bit deeper.
But before we get thereI'm a little curious
because obviously whenwe talk about edge today
AI is so closely related to it.
AI at the edge is a termthat's going around these days,
and so I'm curious what the role here is
at the network edge, especially when we're
talking about network edge devices.
- We know that nowadaysAI model training is done
(11:32):
in the cloud due to its needfor massive amounts of data
and high computational power.
If you do a quick search onlineyou'll find lots of pictures
showing how an AI factory orAI data center need to be.
Imagine something thesize of a football field
(11:53):
and filled with dozens of big blocks,
and each block is packedwith hundreds of servers
all linked together workingnonstop on model training.
I agree that such AIserver sounds amazing,
but this is too far fromour general use case
and not is able toafford by our customers.
(12:16):
As we talked about earlier,the concept of edge computing
is all about handling dataright where it is created
instead of sending everythingto a central server.
So, if we want to use AI toenhance our edge solutions
we cannot just move the entire AI factory
(12:38):
to our server roomunless you are super rich
and your server room is thesize of a football field.
Instead, we keep the heavyduty, deep learning tasks
in a centralized AI center
and shift the inferencepart to the edge, okay?
This approach requiresmuch less power and data,
(13:00):
and making it perfect for edge equipment.
We're already seeing thistrend with AI integrated
into our everyday deviceslike mobile phones
and AI-enabled PCs.
These device usecloud-trained models to make
smart decisions and provideour personalized experiences
(13:23):
and enhance user interaction.
Building on this trend,edge AI servers are coming
with the general computability
we often use a GPU engine here.
This edge server can handlethe basic AI calculation
(13:44):
on top of our existing hardware.
This means faster decision making
and the ability to useAI-driven insights in real time,
whether it's forcybersecurity, small factories,
or other edge applications.
CASwell is now building a new product line
(14:04):
for edge AI servers and designedto bring AI capabilities
right from the data center to the edge,
giving us the power of AI instantly
and puts AI directly in thehands of those who need it
and right when they need it.
(14:24):
- So, tell me a little bitmore about that product line
or the other products that CASwell offers.
You mentioned that youhave a whole suite of tools
to help businesses dependingon what their needs are,
their demands, and whatthey're trying to get.
So, how is CASwellhelping these businesses
address their network edgechallenges and demands?
- I can introduce a model, CAF-0121, okay?
(14:48):
The CAF-0121 is an interestingentry-level desktop product
from CASwell built around Intel's
new generation Atom processor,which offers a great balance
of performance and power efficiency, okay?
This small box also canprovide 2.5 Gig support
(15:09):
to fulfill the basicinfrastructure connectivity,
plus it's compact and fanlesspassive cooling design,
which is suitable for edgecomputing applications.
But we can see a trendwhere the edge environments
are becoming more challengingthan we initially expected.
(15:32):
End users want to install edge equipment
not just in the officespace with air conditioning
or on clean organized racks,
but also in OT environmentslike a warehouse,
factory floors, and even cabinets
(15:53):
without proper airflow, okay?
The line between IT andOT is becoming more broad,
and more users are looking for solutions
that can work in both ITand light OT environment.
As a compromise CASwell decidedto develop this CAF-0121
(16:13):
that can handle a wider temperature range
from the typical zero to 40 degree
up to something likeminus 20 to 60 degree.
Our goal with this new modelis to provide OT-grade specs
at an IT-friendly price.
This means user can cutdown on the resources needed
(16:34):
to manage their infrastructure
and make deployment much simpler.
They can use the same equipmentacross both IT and IT,
both IT and OT applications,making it easier to standardize
and maintain their technology setup.
So, the approach forCAF-0121 allows business
(16:58):
to adapt to differentenvironments without needing
separate solutions for each scenario,
which is really an exciting product.
- Yeah, that's great thatyou developed the CAF-0121
to help businesses in all of their needs.
It occurs to me as we'retalking about this,
the different temperatureranges that they need to meet,
(17:19):
the cost ranges, thatnot only are businesses
having challenges, butsometimes it can be challenging
for partners like CASwellto create these solutions
that meet their demand.
So, I'm just curiousif there's any insight
that you can provide whendeveloping this product
if you guys had any challengesto meet all of these demands,
and how you were able to overcome them?
- The technology aroundthermoelectric module,
(17:42):
we call it TEM, is theone we are relying on
for CAF-0121, okay?
TEM is already a proven solution
for cooling overheating components, okay?
It is common in thingslike medical devices,
car systems, refrigerators, water coolers,
(18:06):
and other equipment that needs quick
and accurate temperature control, okay?
These slim devices work oncreating temperature difference
when electric current passes through them,
causing one side heats up andthe other side cools down.
The more current wesend through the bigger
(18:27):
the temperature differencewe get between two sides.
And of course TEM does not run on its own.
It is controlled by a microcontrollerand the thermal sensor
that monitors the temperatureinside the device.
The firmware that we have programmed
into the microcontroller takesthose temperature readings
(18:48):
and decides when to turn the TEM on
and how much currentwe should send through.
We have gone through countlesstrials and adjustment
with the firmware settingsto ensure our equipment
stays in the ideal temperature range.
And we also had to watch outabout the condensation reaction
(19:09):
because if a TEM cools down too quickly
it can cause moisture toform on the module surface.
And if the moisture getsonto the circuit board
it could cause serious damage.
So, an appropriateliquid isolation solution
between moisture and a circuitboard is also necessary.
(19:30):
While people are normallyusing the cooling capability
of the TEM, we had adifferent idea of why not
leverage both the coolingand heating capability
to help our edge device to operate
in a wider temperature range.
So, the overall concept is by leveraging
(19:51):
the heating capability of the TEM
we can indirectly expand theoperation temperature range
of the system to a lower degree.
And conversely, by usingthe cooling capability
it can cool down thesystem when the internal
ambient temperature risesto a certain high level.
(20:12):
Let me say it in a simple way.
When the room is gettingcold TEM operate as a heater,
and when a room is gettinghot TEM operates as a cooler.
With a TEM we are no longer limited
to the operation temperature range
of the individualcomponents we have selected.
It helps us bridge thegap, allows us to expand
(20:36):
the temperature range of our equipment
beyond what the componentscould typically allow.
This means we can pushthe temperature boundaries
by using the TEM and the devicecan still maintain reliable.
And some people mightthink why we don't just use
industrial-grade components that support
(20:58):
a wider temperature rangeand make our life easier?
Reality is those wide-tempcomponents can sometimes
cost twice as much asstandard commercial ones,
plus the general chassisdesigned for this case
are usually large and heavy.
And then of course themost important reason is
(21:20):
if we build our equipmentjust like everyone else,
why would customers chooseus over the competition?
If that is the case,CAF-0121 would just end up
being another costly devicewith bulky thermal fans
designed to supportwide temperature ranges,
and this is not what we want.
(21:41):
That's why we have put alot of effort into studying
the characteristics ofthe TEM more closely
and focusing on selecting the right
thermal conductivity materials,
fine-tuning our firmware settings,
and testing our device in temperature
(22:02):
control chambers day and night.
Our goal is to redefine whatedge computing hardware can be
by offering solutions thatare adaptable to various
temperature environments,compact and lightweight,
and also still being competitive priced.
- Yeah, it's amazing to hearthose different wide ranges
(22:26):
of temperature environmentsyou were mentioning
in cars and refrigerators,
so I can see the importance of making sure
that it's consistently reliable
and it provides that performance.
So, do you have any customersthat have actually been using
CAF-0121 and anything youcan share with how they're
(22:47):
using it or in what typeof solutions it is in?
- This box is going tomass production in October
this year, which is the next month,
and we have already got afew thousand purchase orders
from a major European customer focused on
cybersecurity applications andplanning to use this device
(23:09):
in small office, warehouse,and possibly outdoor cabinets
for electric vehicle charging station
that need wider temperature support.
This really highlightsthe advantage of CAF-0121.
The customer can use it acrossboth IT and OT applications
(23:30):
without needing separate solutions
for different operationtemperature conditions,
and of course saving customers
from having to spend extra money.
We also sent samples toaround seven to eight
potential customers acrossvarious industries here,
including cybersecurity,SD-WAN, manufacturing,
(23:53):
and telecom companies forinstant traffic management.
The feedback has been fantastic.
Everyone loves the competitive price,
which makes our device a great deal.
And also the compactsize is another big win
because it can fit into tight spaces
(24:16):
and helps lower our shipping cost, also,
reduce the carbon footprint.
You know, in today's marketpricing is a huge factor.
We need to do cost-effective solution
but cannot compromise onperformance and flexibility.
So, it's clear that ourapproach is hitting the mark
(24:40):
for customers who need the reliable
and scalable edge solutionsthat don't break their bank.
The excitement we are seeingfrom these industries really
prove that we are on the right track,
and CAF-0121 is exactlythe kind of solution
that can make their needs.
(25:01):
- I can definitely see why the solution
needs to be smart and compact,
but then also fast andreliable, high performance.
So, I'm curious how youactually make that happen.
And I should mention "insight.tech Talk"
and insight.tech as a whole,we are sponsored by Intel so,
(25:22):
but I know Intel has a lot of processors
that make these devices possible,
that make them be able to run fast
in these different environments
and in these small form factors.
So, I want to hear a littlebit more about how you work
with technology partners like Intel
into making your product line possible.
- As we discussed earlier, asolid edge computing device
(25:46):
should have just theright processing power
packed in a compact size, avariety of connection options,
energy efficient, and of coursea competitive price, okay?
These are really the basic must-haves
for any edge computing device.
(26:08):
That's why we have chosen
the Intel Atom processor for this project.
With the Atom we canprovide the right level
of performance and stillkeeping power consumption low.
And also thanks to IntelLAN controller that help us
easily added the support for2.5 Gig Ethernet to this box
(26:32):
to ensure the capability with most
infrastructure requirements and more.
The Atom has built-in instructions
that can accelerate IPsec traffic,
making it an excellent choice
for security-focused applications.
So, whether you are dealingwith data encryption,
(26:53):
secure communications,or other security jobs,
this processor is up to the challenge.
And if we wanted to furtherenhance the security,
Atom also integrated withBIOS Guard and Boot Guard
to provide a hardware root of trust.
With these two guards weare not just talking about
(27:14):
great performance and efficiency.
We are delivering ahigh level of protection
for the BIOS and the boot-up process.
This level of security is crucial,
especially for edgedevices that need to handle
sensitive information and critical tasks
(27:35):
without compromising protection.
I can say that only Intel offers
a one-stop shop for all these features
among the various players in this market.
They don't just provide the hardware,
but also the driver and firmware support.
(27:56):
This level of integrationhas made the development
of the CAF-0121 project so much easier,
and it has really shortenedour time to market.
When you have got the processingpower, security features,
and even software support
all coming from onereliable partner, Intel,
(28:19):
it certainly streamlinesthe whole process.
This is not just simplifies
the engineering and development work,
but also ensures everythingworks seamlessly together.
So, with Intel's comprehensive support
the hardware designer, like CASwell,
(28:39):
can focus more on optimizing performance
and less on troubleshootingcapability issues.
This is a big win forboth us and our customers,
allowing us to deliver high quality,
reliable edge computingsolutions faster and efficiently.
(29:00):
- Absolutely, that's great to hear.
And I'm sure, you know,we kept talking about
in this conversation makingthings more cost effective,
more affordable, so I'msure being able to leverage
the technology expertiseor the technology processor
and other elements froma partner like Intel
that helps you be able tofocus on your sweet spot
(29:20):
and not have to build things from scratch
and make things more expensivethan they need to be.
So, great to hear how you're using
all of that different technology.
It's been a great conversation.
You've really been ableto take a technical topic,
and make it more digestibleand understandable.
Unfortunately, we are running out of time,
but before we go I just want to throw it
back to you one last time ifyou have any final thoughts
(29:42):
or key takeaways you want toleave our listeners with today.
- I started working atCASwell 10 years ago,
and things were prettydifferent back then.
At that time most of theprocessing power was centralized.
Companies were all about makingtheir server super powerful,
(30:02):
giving them the fast internet connections
for gathering all the data from the edge.
Servers were packed with multiple features
to handle every usecase you could imagine.
Times have changed.
It's all about instant processing
and real-time AI calculations.
Businesses need to make quickdecisions right at the source
(30:25):
of the data instead ofsending everything back
to the central server.
That's why edge computinghas become such a big deal.
It lets companies process data on the spot
without any delay.
But when all the network players
shifting toward edge solutionsthe real challenge is
(30:46):
how do we make our equipment different
and better than everyone else?
So, this project, CAF-0121,
we have gained somereally valuable know-how
using an old-schooltechnology as an innovative
thermal solution for edge equipment
and tried to bring addedvolume to our products
(31:07):
in this highly competitive market.
We also want this smallsuccess to inspire our R&D team
to stay creative andthink outside the box,
and not just stick to thetraditional way of doing things.
Also, thanks to the support from Intel
about their edge solutions,
including edge-optimized processors,
(31:30):
which build in deep learninginference capabilities,
various LAN options fordifferent connectivity needs,
and of course including allthe documents for integration,
drivers and firmware support.
This collaboration has really helped us
push our designs to the next level.
(31:52):
Finally, our goal is very simple,
aiming to set a new standardof edge computing equipment
and providing flexible edgesolutions to help customers
tackle challenges from thecloud and through the network
and all the way to the intelligent edge.
- Well, I can't wait tosee what else CASwell does
(32:13):
in this space as well as theCAF-0121 when that comes,
different market solutions that companies
are going to be leveraging this for.
I invite all of our listenersto visit the CASwell website,
contact them, see how they canhelp you in all of your edge
and network edge needs, aswell as visit insight.tech
(32:33):
as we continue to coverpartners like CASwell
and how they're innovating in this space.
So, I want to thank youagain for joining us today CK
as well as our listeners for tuning in.
Until next time, this hasbeen "insight.tech Talk."
(upbeat instrumental music)
(upbeat instrumental music)
- Hello and welcome to"insight.tech Talk,"
where we explore the latest IoT, AI, edge,
and network technologytrends and innovations.
I'm your host, Christina Cardoza,
(00:21):
Editorial Director of insight.tech,
and today we're taking on the conversation
to the network edge with CK from CASwell.
But before we get started,let's get to know our guest.
Ck what can you tell us about yourself
and what you do at CASwell?
- Hi Christina, hi everyone.
My name is Ck, with over10 years of experience
in CASwell for product management.
My main focus has beenon serving customers
(00:44):
in Europe and the Middle East.
Over the years my mission isto build strong relationships
with clients across these regions,
ensuring that the solutions from CASwell
meet their specific needs and standards.
And about CASwell, originallybegan as a division
dedicated to networksecurity applications.
(01:07):
Over time our expertise and focus grew,
leading us to branch outand establish ourselves
as a standalone company in 2007.
Over the years CASwell hasplaced a strong emphasis on R&D
to stay at the forefront oftechnology and innovation.
(01:28):
However, we were notsatisfied as only a player
for networking, so expanded our business
into information andoperation applications.
I should say that ourjourney from a small division
to an independent company wasn'tjust about getting bigger,
it was about getting better at what we do.
(01:49):
Nowadays, CASwell is a leadinghardware solution provider
for IT and OT industry in Taiwan,
specializing in design,engineering, and manufacturing
of not only networking appliance,
but also industrial equipment,edge computing device,
(02:11):
and advanced edge AI solutionswhich can meet the demand
for the current modern applications.
- Great, and I'm looking forward
to digging into some of that hardware.
But before we jump into that,
I want to start the conversationtrying to understand
a little bit more of why companies
are moving to the network edge.
I like how you said in your introduction,
(02:32):
you're trying to stay atthe forefront of technology
and innovation and getbetter at what you do.
And I think a lot of businesses are trying
to do the same and they look to CASwell
to help them along that journey.
But why are they movingto the network edge today,
and what challenges are theyfacing on their journey?
- If we are talkingabout the edge computing,
(02:52):
we all know that it is allabout handling data right
where it is created insteadof sending everything
to the central server.
This means faster responseand less internal traffic,
which means it is perfect for things
that need instant reactionslike manufacturing,
retail, transportation,financial services, and etcetera.
(03:17):
Let me say it in this way.
Imagine you are in a self-driving car
and something unexpectedhappens on the road.
You need your car to react instantly
because every millisecond counts, okay?
You cannot afford a delay waiting for data
to travel to a distant server and back.
(03:38):
It's not like waitingfor a loading sandbox
when you're using your computer, right?
In self-driving scenarios any delays
could mean life or death.
This is just an example whereedge computing comes in,
handling data right atthe source to make those
split-second decisions.
(04:00):
And of course, it's notjust about the speed,
it's also about keepingyour information safe.
If sensitive data likeyour financial information
can be processed locallyinstead of being sent
over the internet to the central server
there's a lower chance of itbeing intercepted or hacked.
(04:21):
The less your data travelsaround the safer it stays.
This kind of localized processingis also super important
in other areas like health care,
which need instant diagnostic results,
machines in a factory detecting problems.
By processing data onthe spot edge computing
(04:42):
help keep everything runningsmoothly, even in place
where internet connectionsmight be unreliable.
So, in short, edge computing is
all about speed,security, and reliability.
It brings the power ofdata processing closer
to where it's needed most,whether it's in your car
(05:06):
or your doctor's officeor on the factory floor.
But from what I hear fromsome of our customers
moving to the networkedge is not always easy.
It's a big step and comes withits own set of challenges.
Companies face thingslike increased complexity
in managing systems,higher infrastructure cost,
(05:29):
limited processing power, datamanagement issue, and more.
Despite these challenges thebenefits of edge computing
are too significant to ignore.
It can really boost theinfrastructure performance,
improve security, andsave the overall cost,
(05:50):
and eventually making it worth the effort
to overcome all those hurdles.
- Yeah, absolutely.
I can definitely see theneed for network edge
and edge computing with all the demands
of the real-time dataprocessing, like you mentioned,
the enhanced security,improving user experiences.
But I feel like a lot oftimes when we discuss the edge
(06:11):
it feels very abstract.
We know all of the benefits
and why we should be movingthere, but how do we move there?
Is there a network edgedevice, for instance,
that is able to help us move to the edge
and get all of these benefits,what does that look like?
- Challenges that I mentioned earlier
(06:31):
make moving to the edge seemexpensive and complicated,
but if companies can havereliable edge devices integrated
it can provide innovative, dependable,
and affordable hardwarefeatures to help the companies
to overcome these challenges.
So, they can allocatetheir limited resources
(06:54):
and focus more on building and managing
their infrastructure,maintaining their data,
and improving the security,or training their staff.
That's why companies need to work closely
with the edge deviceprovider, like CASwell.
Our customers can always count on us
(07:14):
because we design the rightequipment for the right use case
and ensure the edge devices are the key
for their edge journeyand make their transition
to the edge smoother and easier.
So, at the end of the day,having the right device
with the right features are essential,
but it's only with theright partner, like CASwell.
(07:38):
We support them from thehardware perspective,
allowing companies to focusmore on their specialization.
Each party plays its ownrole, enabling companies
to truly do more with thisin their edge journey.
- I know you mentionedobviously it's important
to have the right features,reliable, affordable hardware,
(07:59):
and that helps you buildand manage infrastructure
and maintain that datathat's really important,
but can you talk a little bitmore about what those features
and hardware capabilities look like?
When companies are lookingfor a network edge device,
what type of capabilitiesis really going to
bring them success?
- Okay, it is a tricky question for me.
(08:19):
If I'm talking about my dream edge device
it needs to be small and compact,
also packed with multipleconnection options
like SNA, Wi-Fi, and 5Gfor different applications.
And it would also be niceto have a rack design
that can operate in harsh environment
(08:41):
and handle a right range of temperature
if users want to install the equipment
in stony cold mountains or hot deserts.
Also, offer powerful processingbut consume low power.
And of course, the mostimportant thing is the cost
for this all-in-one boxneed to be extremely low.
(09:02):
Getting all that in onedevice sounds perfect, right?
But do you really thinkthat even be possible?
Okay, I can tell you thetruth is companies at the edge
don't really need an all-in-one box.
What they really need is adevice with the right features
for their specificenvironment and application,
(09:26):
and that's what CASwell is all about.
We have a product linewhich can provide a variety
of choices from the basicmodels to high-end solutions
and from IT to OT applications.
Whether it's for asmall office, a factory,
or a remote location wehave got options designed
(09:46):
for different conditions and requirements.
So, with the right partnercompanies can easily find
the right edge devicewithout paying for features
they don't really need, okay?
Moving to the edge computingcertainly costs a lot,
so we need to do it smart and efficient.
(10:06):
The idea is to ensure that everyedge player can get exactly
what they need tooptimize their operations
and stay ahead of this game.
So, sorry that there's no certain answer
for your question here.
In my opinion that if anedge device that can offer
(10:27):
the right features, right capabilities
with an affordable costfor the specific use case,
then it's just a good edgedevice that we are looking for.
- Yeah, absolutely.
No, I love that businesses or companies,
they don't necessarilyneed an all-in-one box.
I think so many times thebusinesses are focused on finding
(10:50):
something that is cost effective
that tries to meet all their needs,
and they sort of lose sight ofwhat their needs actually are
and how a device can help them
and the benefits in the long run.
So, that's definitely great,
and I want to get into howpartnerships work with CASwell
and as well as the different product lines
(11:11):
that you do have a little bit deeper.
But before we get thereI'm a little curious
because obviously whenwe talk about edge today
AI is so closely related to it.
AI at the edge is a termthat's going around these days,
and so I'm curious what the role here is
at the network edge, especially when we're
talking about network edge devices.
- We know that nowadaysAI model training is done
(11:32):
in the cloud due to its needfor massive amounts of data
and high computational power.
If you do a quick search onlineyou'll find lots of pictures
showing how an AI factory orAI data center need to be.
Imagine something thesize of a football field
(11:53):
and filled with dozens of big blocks,
and each block is packedwith hundreds of servers
all linked together workingnonstop on model training.
I agree that such AIserver sounds amazing,
but this is too far fromour general use case
and not is able toafford by our customers.
(12:16):
As we talked about earlier,the concept of edge computing
is all about handling dataright where it is created
instead of sending everythingto a central server.
So, if we want to use AI toenhance our edge solutions
we cannot just move the entire AI factory
(12:38):
to our server roomunless you are super rich
and your server room is thesize of a football field.
Instead, we keep the heavyduty, deep learning tasks
in a centralized AI center
and shift the inferencepart to the edge, okay?
This approach requiresmuch less power and data,
(13:00):
and making it perfect for edge equipment.
We're already seeing thistrend with AI integrated
into our everyday deviceslike mobile phones
and AI-enabled PCs.
These device usecloud-trained models to make
smart decisions and provideour personalized experiences
(13:23):
and enhance user interaction.
Building on this trend,edge AI servers are coming
with the general computability
we often use a GPU engine here.
This edge server can handlethe basic AI calculation
(13:44):
on top of our existing hardware.
This means faster decision making
and the ability to useAI-driven insights in real time,
whether it's forcybersecurity, small factories,
or other edge applications.
CASwell is now building a new product line
(14:04):
for edge AI servers and designedto bring AI capabilities
right from the data center to the edge,
giving us the power of AI instantly
and puts AI directly in thehands of those who need it
and right when they need it.
(14:24):
- So, tell me a little bitmore about that product line
or the other products that CASwell offers.
You mentioned that youhave a whole suite of tools
to help businesses dependingon what their needs are,
their demands, and whatthey're trying to get.
So, how is CASwellhelping these businesses
address their network edgechallenges and demands?
- I can introduce a model, CAF-0121, okay?
(14:48):
The CAF-0121 is an interestingentry-level desktop product
from CASwell built around Intel's
new generation Atom processor,which offers a great balance
of performance and power efficiency, okay?
This small box also canprovide 2.5 Gig support
(15:09):
to fulfill the basicinfrastructure connectivity,
plus it's compact and fanlesspassive cooling design,
which is suitable for edgecomputing applications.
But we can see a trendwhere the edge environments
are becoming more challengingthan we initially expected.
(15:32):
End users want to install edge equipment
not just in the officespace with air conditioning
or on clean organized racks,
but also in OT environmentslike a warehouse,
factory floors, and even cabinets
(15:53):
without proper airflow, okay?
The line between IT andOT is becoming more broad,
and more users are looking for solutions
that can work in both ITand light OT environment.
As a compromise CASwell decidedto develop this CAF-0121
(16:13):
that can handle a wider temperature range
from the typical zero to 40 degree
up to something likeminus 20 to 60 degree.
Our goal with this new modelis to provide OT-grade specs
at an IT-friendly price.
This means user can cutdown on the resources needed
(16:34):
to manage their infrastructure
and make deployment much simpler.
They can use the same equipmentacross both IT and IT,
both IT and OT applications,making it easier to standardize
and maintain their technology setup.
So, the approach forCAF-0121 allows business
(16:58):
to adapt to differentenvironments without needing
separate solutions for each scenario,
which is really an exciting product.
- Yeah, that's great thatyou developed the CAF-0121
to help businesses in all of their needs.
It occurs to me as we'retalking about this,
the different temperatureranges that they need to meet,
(17:19):
the cost ranges, thatnot only are businesses
having challenges, butsometimes it can be challenging
for partners like CASwellto create these solutions
that meet their demand.
So, I'm just curiousif there's any insight
that you can provide whendeveloping this product
if you guys had any challengesto meet all of these demands,
and how you were able to overcome them?
- The technology aroundthermoelectric module,
(17:42):
we call it TEM, is theone we are relying on
for CAF-0121, okay?
TEM is already a proven solution
for cooling overheating components, okay?
It is common in thingslike medical devices,
car systems, refrigerators, water coolers,
(18:06):
and other equipment that needs quick
and accurate temperature control, okay?
These slim devices work oncreating temperature difference
when electric current passes through them,
causing one side heats up andthe other side cools down.
The more current wesend through the bigger
(18:27):
the temperature differencewe get between two sides.
And of course TEM does not run on its own.
It is controlled by a microcontrollerand the thermal sensor
that monitors the temperatureinside the device.
The firmware that we have programmed
into the microcontroller takesthose temperature readings
(18:48):
and decides when to turn the TEM on
and how much currentwe should send through.
We have gone through countlesstrials and adjustment
with the firmware settingsto ensure our equipment
stays in the ideal temperature range.
And we also had to watch outabout the condensation reaction
(19:09):
because if a TEM cools down too quickly
it can cause moisture toform on the module surface.
And if the moisture getsonto the circuit board
it could cause serious damage.
So, an appropriateliquid isolation solution
between moisture and a circuitboard is also necessary.
(19:30):
While people are normallyusing the cooling capability
of the TEM, we had adifferent idea of why not
leverage both the coolingand heating capability
to help our edge device to operate
in a wider temperature range.
So, the overall concept is by leveraging
(19:51):
the heating capability of the TEM
we can indirectly expand theoperation temperature range
of the system to a lower degree.
And conversely, by usingthe cooling capability
it can cool down thesystem when the internal
ambient temperature risesto a certain high level.
(20:12):
Let me say it in a simple way.
When the room is gettingcold TEM operate as a heater,
and when a room is gettinghot TEM operates as a cooler.
With a TEM we are no longer limited
to the operation temperature range
of the individualcomponents we have selected.
It helps us bridge thegap, allows us to expand
(20:36):
the temperature range of our equipment
beyond what the componentscould typically allow.
This means we can pushthe temperature boundaries
by using the TEM and the devicecan still maintain reliable.
And some people mightthink why we don't just use
industrial-grade components that support
(20:58):
a wider temperature rangeand make our life easier?
Reality is those wide-tempcomponents can sometimes
cost twice as much asstandard commercial ones,
plus the general chassisdesigned for this case
are usually large and heavy.
And then of course themost important reason is
(21:20):
if we build our equipmentjust like everyone else,
why would customers chooseus over the competition?
If that is the case,CAF-0121 would just end up
being another costly devicewith bulky thermal fans
designed to supportwide temperature ranges,
and this is not what we want.
(21:41):
That's why we have put alot of effort into studying
the characteristics ofthe TEM more closely
and focusing on selecting the right
thermal conductivity materials,
fine-tuning our firmware settings,
and testing our device in temperature
(22:02):
control chambers day and night.
Our goal is to redefine whatedge computing hardware can be
by offering solutions thatare adaptable to various
temperature environments,compact and lightweight,
and also still being competitive priced.
- Yeah, it's amazing to hearthose different wide ranges
(22:26):
of temperature environmentsyou were mentioning
in cars and refrigerators,
so I can see the importance of making sure
that it's consistently reliable
and it provides that performance.
So, do you have any customersthat have actually been using
CAF-0121 and anything youcan share with how they're
(22:47):
using it or in what typeof solutions it is in?
- This box is going tomass production in October
this year, which is the next month,
and we have already got afew thousand purchase orders
from a major European customer focused on
cybersecurity applications andplanning to use this device
(23:09):
in small office, warehouse,and possibly outdoor cabinets
for electric vehicle charging station
that need wider temperature support.
This really highlightsthe advantage of CAF-0121.
The customer can use it acrossboth IT and OT applications
(23:30):
without needing separate solutions
for different operationtemperature conditions,
and of course saving customers
from having to spend extra money.
We also sent samples toaround seven to eight
potential customers acrossvarious industries here,
including cybersecurity,SD-WAN, manufacturing,
(23:53):
and telecom companies forinstant traffic management.
The feedback has been fantastic.
Everyone loves the competitive price,
which makes our device a great deal.
And also the compactsize is another big win
because it can fit into tight spaces
(24:16):
and helps lower our shipping cost, also,
reduce the carbon footprint.
You know, in today's marketpricing is a huge factor.
We need to do cost-effective solution
but cannot compromise onperformance and flexibility.
So, it's clear that ourapproach is hitting the mark
(24:40):
for customers who need the reliable
and scalable edge solutionsthat don't break their bank.
The excitement we are seeingfrom these industries really
prove that we are on the right track,
and CAF-0121 is exactlythe kind of solution
that can make their needs.
(25:01):
- I can definitely see why the solution
needs to be smart and compact,
but then also fast andreliable, high performance.
So, I'm curious how youactually make that happen.
And I should mention "insight.tech Talk"
and insight.tech as a whole,we are sponsored by Intel so,
(25:22):
but I know Intel has a lot of processors
that make these devices possible,
that make them be able to run fast
in these different environments
and in these small form factors.
So, I want to hear a littlebit more about how you work
with technology partners like Intel
into making your product line possible.
- As we discussed earlier, asolid edge computing device
(25:46):
should have just theright processing power
packed in a compact size, avariety of connection options,
energy efficient, and of coursea competitive price, okay?
These are really the basic must-haves
for any edge computing device.
(26:08):
That's why we have chosen
the Intel Atom processor for this project.
With the Atom we canprovide the right level
of performance and stillkeeping power consumption low.
And also thanks to IntelLAN controller that help us
easily added the support for2.5 Gig Ethernet to this box
(26:32):
to ensure the capability with most
infrastructure requirements and more.
The Atom has built-in instructions
that can accelerate IPsec traffic,
making it an excellent choice
for security-focused applications.
So, whether you are dealingwith data encryption,
(26:53):
secure communications,or other security jobs,
this processor is up to the challenge.
And if we wanted to furtherenhance the security,
Atom also integrated withBIOS Guard and Boot Guard
to provide a hardware root of trust.
With these two guards weare not just talking about
(27:14):
great performance and efficiency.
We are delivering ahigh level of protection
for the BIOS and the boot-up process.
This level of security is crucial,
especially for edgedevices that need to handle
sensitive information and critical tasks
(27:35):
without compromising protection.
I can say that only Intel offers
a one-stop shop for all these features
among the various players in this market.
They don't just provide the hardware,
but also the driver and firmware support.
(27:56):
This level of integrationhas made the development
of the CAF-0121 project so much easier,
and it has really shortenedour time to market.
When you have got the processingpower, security features,
and even software support
all coming from onereliable partner, Intel,
(28:19):
it certainly streamlinesthe whole process.
This is not just simplifies
the engineering and development work,
but also ensures everythingworks seamlessly together.
So, with Intel's comprehensive support
the hardware designer, like CASwell,
(28:39):
can focus more on optimizing performance
and less on troubleshootingcapability issues.
This is a big win forboth us and our customers,
allowing us to deliver high quality,
reliable edge computingsolutions faster and efficiently.
(29:00):
- Absolutely, that's great to hear.
And I'm sure, you know,we kept talking about
in this conversation makingthings more cost effective,
more affordable, so I'msure being able to leverage
the technology expertiseor the technology processor
and other elements froma partner like Intel
that helps you be able tofocus on your sweet spot
(29:20):
and not have to build things from scratch
and make things more expensivethan they need to be.
So, great to hear how you're using
all of that different technology.
It's been a great conversation.
You've really been ableto take a technical topic,
and make it more digestibleand understandable.
Unfortunately, we are running out of time,
but before we go I just want to throw it
back to you one last time ifyou have any final thoughts
(29:42):
or key takeaways you want toleave our listeners with today.
- I started working atCASwell 10 years ago,
and things were prettydifferent back then.
At that time most of theprocessing power was centralized.
Companies were all about makingtheir server super powerful,
(30:02):
giving them the fast internet connections
for gathering all the data from the edge.
Servers were packed with multiple features
to handle every usecase you could imagine.
Times have changed.
It's all about instant processing
and real-time AI calculations.
Businesses need to make quickdecisions right at the source
(30:25):
of the data instead ofsending everything back
to the central server.
That's why edge computinghas become such a big deal.
It lets companies process data on the spot
without any delay.
But when all the network players
shifting toward edge solutionsthe real challenge is
(30:46):
how do we make our equipment different
and better than everyone else?
So, this project, CAF-0121,
we have gained somereally valuable know-how
using an old-schooltechnology as an innovative
thermal solution for edge equipment
and tried to bring addedvolume to our products
(31:07):
in this highly competitive market.
We also want this smallsuccess to inspire our R&D team
to stay creative andthink outside the box,
and not just stick to thetraditional way of doing things.
Also, thanks to the support from Intel
about their edge solutions,
including edge-optimized processors,
(31:30):
which build in deep learninginference capabilities,
various LAN options fordifferent connectivity needs,
and of course including allthe documents for integration,
drivers and firmware support.
This collaboration has really helped us
push our designs to the next level.
(31:52):
Finally, our goal is very simple,
aiming to set a new standardof edge computing equipment
and providing flexible edgesolutions to help customers
tackle challenges from thecloud and through the network
and all the way to the intelligent edge.
- Well, I can't wait tosee what else CASwell does
(32:13):
in this space as well as theCAF-0121 when that comes,
different market solutions that companies
are going to be leveraging this for.
I invite all of our listenersto visit the CASwell website,
contact them, see how they canhelp you in all of your edge
and network edge needs, aswell as visit insight.tech
(32:33):
as we continue to coverpartners like CASwell
and how they're innovating in this space.
So, I want to thank youagain for joining us today CK
as well as our listeners for tuning in.
Until next time, this hasbeen "insight.tech Talk."
(upbeat instrumental music)
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