Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you understand the platform, model effectively, and deploy with complete confidence.
Getting Started
What is EdgeNode in simple terms?
EdgeNode is a digital twin and process simulation platform. You map your enterprise architecture or workflow into a single master graph, and the platform instantly generates standard diagrams like BPMN, ArchiMate, or UML. More importantly, it runs real-time simulations to help you find hidden bottlenecks, calculate costs, and optimize resources without writing code.
Who is EdgeNode built for?
It is designed for executives, business analysts, system engineers, and product teams who need to evaluate process changes, verify business hypotheses before building an MVP, or ensure strict operational compliance before deployment.
Modeling & Graph Concepts
What are the main entities in EdgeNode?
| Entity | What it represents | Key attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Node | Any element in your system (step, role, component, location) | Name, coordinates, hierarchy (parent/child) |
| Edge | Directed connection between nodes | Source → Target |
| Stream (Artifact) | Anything that flows through the graph | Type, name, unit of measure |
| Cycle | Work performed at a node | Duration, cost, responsible role |
| Transaction | Movement of an artifact along an edge | Latency, priority, state change |
| Contour | Logical layer / scenario | Business / Technology / Process view, etc. |
| Role | Actor or job function | Rate card, weekly availability, RACI assignments |
| Goal | Target outcome | Required artifacts + quantities |
| Relation | Semantic link between nodes | Requires / Extends / Alternative to |
Tip: You only add the entities you actually need. Everything stays in one living graph.
How do I represent a business process?
- Create Nodes for each step
- Connect them with Edges
- Attach Artifacts and assign Roles (Cycles)
- Generate BPMN — EdgeNode auto-creates gateways, lanes and events
What are Contours and how do they help?
Contours are logical layers (scenarios, architectural views). One graph can belong to multiple contours — you can show only the Business layer, only the Technology layer, or everything at once.
Diagram Generation & Standards
Which diagram standards does EdgeNode support?
- BPMN 2.0
- ArchiMate 3.x
- UML (Class, Sequence, State)
- RACI Matrix
- Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
All diagrams are generated on-demand from the same live graph.
Why does the BPMN diagram look different from my canvas?
The canvas is for free-form modeling. When you export, EdgeNode applies standard-compliant layout, detects gateways, swimlanes and optimal paths automatically. Both views always reflect the same underlying data.
Are diagrams always up-to-date?
Yes. Every diagram is a live projection. Change the graph → regenerate or switch standards — the output updates instantly. No more outdated documentation.
Simulation & Technology
How does the simulation engine work?
Your model compiles into an executable semantic graph. Rather than visual animation, the high-performance Haskell core calculates paths, transactions, and nodes workloads based on graph theory. This yields mathematically sound expectations for execution time, costs, and operational risks within seconds.
What process optimization strategies are supported?
EdgeNode provides four built-in optimization strategies out of the box: Quickest (time reduction), Cheapest (cost minimization), Priorital (critical path focus), and Optimal (balanced multi-criteria optimization).
How does Goal Execution Time work?
Define a Goal and its required Artifacts. EdgeNode calculates the critical path across all parallel and sequential flows and tells you exactly how long it will take to reach the goal.
Can I compare “what-if” scenarios?
Yes. Save a baseline, make changes (add/remove nodes, adjust times/costs), re-run evaluation and instantly see the difference in time, cost and path.
Licensing & Deployment
What is the difference between SaaS and On-Premise?
| Aspect | SaaS | On-Premise |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | EdgeNode cloud | Your infrastructure |
| Deployment | Instant web access | Air-gapped capable |
| Data control | User isolation inside DB | Full organizational control |
Is the SaaS version really free until 2027?
Yes, our Cloud SaaS platform is 100% free for all standard modeling and simulation activities until January 1, 2027. No hidden costs, no mandatory subscriptions during this period.
What does “Air-Gap ready” mean?
On-Premise Enterprise operates completely offline. All binaries and dependencies are bundled within containers. The system makes zero external web queries, and strict firewall configurations can completely block egress traffic.
Security & Data Control
How is my corporate data protected?
In SaaS, security is maintained via TLS 1.3 encryption, bcrypt + JWT authentication, and logical database isolation within PostgreSQL. On-Premise versions run inside autonomous Podman/Docker containers within your perimeter, require no internet connectivity, and produce immutable audit logs for internal compliance.
Can I easily export or migrate my data?
Yes, we guarantee no vendor lock-in. Full structured YAML exports of your entire graph, configurations, and simulation rules are available anytime. This file acts as a valid datasource for the local engine, enabling seamless SaaS to On-Premise migration.