e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    Scalable Container-Based Time Synchronization for Smart Grid Data Center Networks

    Okafor, Kennedy Chinedu ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-6789, Okafor, Wisdom Onyema, Longe, Omowunmi Mary ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2170-7289, Ayogu, Ikechukwu Ignatius, Anoh, Kelvin ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2538-6945 and Adebisi, Bamidele ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9071-9120 (2025) Scalable Container-Based Time Synchronization for Smart Grid Data Center Networks. Technologies, 13 (3). 105. ISSN 2227-7080

    [img]
    Preview
    Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

    Download (10MB) | Preview

    Abstract

    The integration of edge-to-cloud infrastructures in smart grid (SG) data center networks requires scalable, efficient, and secure architecture. Traditional server-based SG data center architectures face high computational loads and delays. To address this problem, a lightweight data center network (DCN) with low-cost, and fast-converging optimization is required. This paper introduces a container-based time synchronization model (CTSM) within a spine–leaf virtual private cloud (SL-VPC), deployed via AWS CloudFormation stack as a practical use case. The CTSM optimizes resource utilization, security, and traffic management while reducing computational overhead. The model was benchmarked against five DCN topologies—DCell, Mesh, Skywalk, Dahu, and Ficonn—using Mininet simulations and a software-defined CloudFormation stack on an Amazon EC2 HPC testbed under realistic SG traffic patterns. The results show that CTSM achieved near-100% reliability, with the highest received energy data (29.87%), lowest packetization delay (13.11%), and highest traffic availability (70.85%). Stateless container engines improved resource allocation, reducing administrative overhead and enhancing grid stability. Software-defined Network (SDN)-driven adaptive routing and load balancing further optimized performance under dynamic demand conditions. These findings position CTSM-SL-VPC as a secure, scalable, and efficient solution for next-generation smart grid automation.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    1Download
    6 month trend
    11Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record