Enhancing the Contoso Motors Scenario with Simplified Architecture and Cost Reductions
Today, we are excited to announce the release of version 2 of the Contoso Motors scenario, part of Jumpstart Agora. This update brings key updates that streamline deployment, improve maintainability, and reduce operational costs. These enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to leveraging the latest Azure capabilities while optimizing the architecture for efficiency.
☸️Migrating to Rancher K3s for a Lighter, More Efficient Deployment
One of the most significant changes in this release is the transition from AKS Edge Essentials to Rancher K3s. This shift simplifies the deployment process while taking advantage of K3s’s lightweight architecture, making it an excellent fit for edge and industrial scenarios. Additionally, we have adopted Traefik as the default ingress controller, replacing kube-vip for LoadBalancer services. This change reduces the complexity of networking requirements and significantly cuts down on public IP address usage.
🏭Leveraging the GA Version of Azure IoT Operations
At the time of the initial Contoso Motors release, the scenario relied on a preview version of Azure IoT Operations. With the general availability (GA) of this service, we’ve updated the scenario to ensure users benefit from the latest performance enhancements, security improvements, and feature updates available in the GA release.
📦Optimized Container Image Management
To enhance security and reliability, container images used in the scenario are now pulled from the Microsoft Container Registry (MCR) instead of external sources. This ensures a more controlled and trusted source for the necessary container images, reducing dependency risks.
🛜Helm Chart Improvements for Simplified Networking
As part of the improvements, the OpenVINO Model Server (OVMS) Helm chart has been updated to use a NodePort service type instead of a LoadBalancer. This simplifies networking configurations while maintaining reliable access to the deployed services.
💸Cost Optimization: Reduced VM Requirements
We reviewed the resource utilization of the scenario and optimized the client VM size, reducing it from a 32 vCPU machine to an 8 vCPU machine. This change alone results in an estimated cost savings of approximately $500 per month, making the scenario more accessible and cost-effective for users.
📄Updated Documentation
To align with these updates, we have revised the documentation to reflect the transition to Rancher K3s, updates to Azure IoT Operations, and other refinements. The documentation now provides clearer guidance on deploying and managing the scenario with these new optimizations.
Looking Ahead
These updates make the Contoso Motors scenario more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective while ensuring alignment with the latest Azure capabilities. Whether you’re leveraging this scenario for industrial IoT, edge AI, or manufacturing automation, these improvements enhance usability and operational efficiency.
We encourage you to explore the updated scenario and share your feedback. Stay tuned for future enhancements as we continue refining Jumpstart Agora’s industry-specific solutions!
Microsoft