SymbIoT: Towards An Extensible Blockchain Integration Testbed for IIoT

John Hayes, Adel Aneiba, Mohamed Medhat Gaber

Abstract: This paper presents SymbIoT, an extensible hybrid simulation-emulation testbed to investigate the integration of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) within the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continuum. By adopting a joint software and hardware-based approach, we amalgamate the flexibility of software solutions and the real-world applicability offered by integrating comparable IoT hardware. The versatility of SymbIoT lies in its extensibility, offering flexibility in parameters including consensus algorithms, block size, node count and topology, throughput limitation, and use-case application deployment. SymbIoT facilitates comprehensive empirical studies of blockchain implementations within IIoT, focusing on performance, scalability, and security considerations. The testbed provides a platform for innovative and pragmatic experimentation in blockchain and IIoT integration, holding promise for shaping future applications and solutions in this cross-disciplinary field. We also present results from preliminary experimentation, indicating the applicability of the testbed for IIoT and broader IoT-to-cloud scenarios.