Azure IoT Edge runtime

The Azure IoT Edge runtime enables logic on IoT edge devices or edge computers. It sits on the edge device or edge computer, such as a Raspberry Pi. It is responsible for several functions:

• It's responsible for the installation and updating of workload on the edge device.
• It's responsible for the maintenance of Azure IoT Edge security standards on the edge device.
• It makes sure that the IoT Edge modules are always running.
• It reports module health for remote monitoring to the cloud.
• It manages communications:
  • Between modules on the Edge device
  • Between the Edge device and the cloud
  • Between downstream devices such as sensors and the Edge device

The following is a diagram of the Azure IoT Edge runtime. As we can see, the runtime acts as a sort of traffic cop for the modules inside the Azure IoT Edge device:

We will work with the Azure IoT Edge runtime when we get hands-on experience with Azure IoT Edge in Chapter 5, Using the Raspberry Pi with Azure IoT Edge.