V-Node: Real-Time Edge Computing for IoT

Extend visibility and control to remote, distributed, and disconnected environments.

Distributed infrastructure creates a simple operational problem: the farther an asset is from the central IT environment, the harder it becomes to monitor what is happening there in real time. A PLC inside a segregated OT network, a camera in a warehouse several time zones away, or a router at a remote branch can generate valuable telemetry every second. Getting that information to a central platform can take time, and by then the opportunity to act may have already passed.

V-Node brings processing and decision-making closer to the systems that generate the data.

From data collection to local execution

Conventional IoT gateways primarily move data between devices and cloud platforms. They collect telemetry, forward it upstream, then wait for instructions to come back. That architecture works for many monitoring scenarios, but it becomes a constraint when an operation depends on an immediate response. A few seconds of delay can result in a missed alarm, an interrupted transaction, or a problem that remains undetected until someone notices it.

V-Node is a lightweight edge runtime that can run on physical, virtual, or embedded hardware. It monitors systems, executes automation rules, and responds locally, even when connectivity to the cloud is unavailable. IoT Builder provides centralized orchestration and governance, while V-Node handles execution at the edge. This architecture combines immediate local response with centralized visibility across the entire deployment.

The result is a distributed execution layer that can operate wherever the infrastructure requires it.

Intelligence where it counts

Retail

Preventing downtime before customers notice

A POS system that becomes unavailable for ninety seconds during a busy period can mean lost revenue and a poor customer experience. V-Node continuously checks connectivity, DNS resolution, and application reachability at each store, identifying failures directly at the site where they occur.

When a corrective action is available, it can be executed locally. IT teams gain visibility into the condition of individual stores without relying exclusively on help-desk reports or centralized monitoring.

Industrial & SCADA

Visibility inside segmented environments

OT networks are frequently isolated from corporate IT networks for security and operational reasons. That separation can also make it difficult for central teams to monitor what is happening on the plant floor.
V-Node runs inside these segmented environments and can interface with industrial protocols such as Modbus and BACnet. Relevant telemetry can then be processed locally and forwarded to central platforms according to defined rules..

This gives IT and OT teams greater operational visibility while keeping existing network segmentation and security policies in place. It also reduces the need for on-site intervention when diagnostics can be performed remotely.

Smart buildings

Automation at the edge

Building systems often depend on immediate responses to changes in occupancy and environmental conditions. HVAC control, lighting, and access systems can all benefit from decisions being made close to the equipment they control.

V-Node integrates with KNX, BACnet, and building automation controllers directly at the edge. Rules can therefore be executed locally, without depending on a round trip to a remote cloud service. If WAN connectivity is interrupted, local automation can continue to operate.

Video infrastructure

Adding intelligence to existing camera streams

Surveillance environments often combine cameras, vendors, and protocols across the same deployment. V-Node can connect to RTSP streams, expose them through standard ONVIF interfaces, and perform local object detection.

This allows existing video infrastructure to generate operational events such as motion, intrusion, or occupancy without sending every video frame to the cloud. Processing remains close to the cameras, reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while enabling real-time event generation.

Branch & SD-WAN

Verifying that the network actually works

For IT teams responsible for dozens or hundreds of remote sites, connectivity monitoring needs to go beyond checking whether a link is technically up. A branch can have an active WAN connection while specific applications or network paths are already experiencing problems.

V-Node continuously evaluates path performance, carrier SLAs, and application reachability at each location. This provides a more complete view of branch connectivity and helps identify degradation before it develops into a visible outage..

Vehicle & mobile edge networks

Monitoring assets wherever they operate

SMobile assets introduce another layer of complexity: their network conditions change as they move between locations and connectivity providers.

V-Node monitors connectivity across distributed and mobile environments, identifying disruptions as they occur. The same edge architecture can therefore be applied to trucks, vessels, and other connected units without requiring the asset to remain within a fixed network environment.

Local autonomy, centralized control

Across these use cases, the architecture remains consistent. IoT Builder defines the policies, rules, and configuration that govern the deployment. V-Node executes those instructions locally at each edge location.

This separation makes it possible to manage a distributed infrastructure centrally while keeping execution close to the systems being monitored. Policies remain consistent across the fleet, while local operations can continue even when connectivity to the central platform is temporarily unavailable.

Extending the Cisco ecosystem to the edge

Organizations already using Cisco observability and security platforms can use V-Node to extend their existing monitoring architecture into environments that are remote, constrained, or segmented.

Cisco ThousandEyes provides visibility into internet, SaaS, and application performance. V-Node extends that monitoring capability into remote sites and OT environments, providing additional telemetry that can feed into existing NOC workflows.

Cisco Cyber Vision provides asset visibility and threat detection within industrial networks. V-Node adds operational telemetry around network performance and connectivity, giving teams additional context when investigating an issue.

Splunk provides a platform for collecting and analyzing logs and events. V-Node can enrich those data flows with live telemetry generated directly at the edge, including information that may otherwise be difficult to capture from remote or isolated environments.

The architecture is designed to extend existing tools rather than force organizations to replace them. V-Node provides an additional execution and collection layer at the edge, while existing enterprise platforms remain the central point for monitoring, analysis, and operational workflows.

The edge is where the action happens

Distributed infrastructure requires a different approach to monitoring. Central platforms provide the visibility needed to manage an enterprise, while local processing provides the response time required to manage individual assets and sites.

V-Node brings those two layers together: centralized orchestration through IoT Builder, with local execution wherever the data is generated.

Want to see how V-Node can work with your existing infrastructure?
Request a demo and explore what you can monitor, automate, and control directly at the edge.