Migrating WebAssembly components over the Cloud-Edge Continuum

With the proliferation of edge computing and the increasing demand for low latency and high throughput applications, the cloud edge continuum has emerged as a promising paradigm for distributed computing. In this continuum, computational tasks are dynamically allocated across cloud data centers and edge devices based on factors such as proximity to data sources, network conditions, and application requirements. However, achieving seamless mobility of application components, especially in the form of WebAssembly (Wasm) modules, presents significant challenges due to differences in hardware architectures, network protocols, and runtime environments between the cloud and edge. This research explores the concept of live migration of WebAssembly modules within the cloud-edge continuum to enable dynamic resource provisioning and workload balancing. By leveraging containerization technologies and runtime adaptation mechanisms, we propose a proof-of-concept for transparently migrating Wasm modules between cloud data centers and edge nodes without interrupting ongoing computations. The proof-of-concept employs a combination of pre-copy and post-copy migration techniques, coupled with runtime code adaptation, to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency during the migration process. An evaluation is performed in terms of migration latency and resource utilization. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of live migration of Wasm modules in the cloud-edge continuum, highlighting its potential to enhance the scalability, reliability, and agility of edge computing infrastructures. Furthermore, it's discuss open research challenges and future directions for optimizing the migration process, enhancing security and privacy guarantees, and enabling dynamic orchestration of distributed applications in heterogeneous cloud-edge environments.