Term of the Moment
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Definition: CDN
(Content Delivery Network) A distribution system on the Internet that accelerates the delivery of Web pages, audio, video and other Internet-based content to users around the world. The CDN replicates the content provider's files in servers, called "caching servers" or "edge servers," located in geographically dispersed datacenters. Most CDNs are third-party services; however, large companies may develop their own "enterprise CDN" (eCDN) to support remote locations more effectively.
Web Acceleration
Every CDN accelerates content delivery by nature of its multiple backbones (in most cases) and numerous caching servers. A CDN may also augment acceleration via compression between nodes in its own network. Quite often, only the graphics on a Web page are delivered by the CDN, while the HTML text is sent out from the customer's servers.
Streaming and Downloading
Video uses extensive network bandwidth, and many customers of a CDN use the service solely to stream video to users. A CDN may offer several streaming methods including Flash, Windows Media, Silverlight and progressive download, the latter using the same HTTP protocol as Web pages (see progressive download). Large downloads such as gaming software are also candidates for CDNs. The CDN may pull the data from the customer's origin server, or the customer may upload the files to the CDN.
Server-Side Processing
The CDN may offer server-side processing (Java, ASP, etc.). If the CDN does not do the processing, that operation takes place in the customer's servers, and the CDN can deliver the accompanying graphics or other downloads.
Hybrid CDN (Peer-to-Peer)
A CDN may support peer-to-peer processing, which requires client software to be installed in the user's computer or pre-installed in a set-top box.
The Vendors
As of 2020, Akamai, Google, Swarmify, Microsoft, Rackspace, Amazon and Limelight are among the largest CDN providers. See content peering.
Akamai's Control Center
Web Acceleration
Every CDN accelerates content delivery by nature of its multiple backbones (in most cases) and numerous caching servers. A CDN may also augment acceleration via compression between nodes in its own network. Quite often, only the graphics on a Web page are delivered by the CDN, while the HTML text is sent out from the customer's servers.
Streaming and Downloading
Video uses extensive network bandwidth, and many customers of a CDN use the service solely to stream video to users. A CDN may offer several streaming methods including Flash, Windows Media, Silverlight and progressive download, the latter using the same HTTP protocol as Web pages (see progressive download). Large downloads such as gaming software are also candidates for CDNs. The CDN may pull the data from the customer's origin server, or the customer may upload the files to the CDN.
Server-Side Processing
The CDN may offer server-side processing (Java, ASP, etc.). If the CDN does not do the processing, that operation takes place in the customer's servers, and the CDN can deliver the accompanying graphics or other downloads.
Hybrid CDN (Peer-to-Peer)
A CDN may support peer-to-peer processing, which requires client software to be installed in the user's computer or pre-installed in a set-top box.
The Vendors
As of 2020, Akamai, Google, Swarmify, Microsoft, Rackspace, Amazon and Limelight are among the largest CDN providers. See content peering.
Moving massive amounts of content every day, Akamai has a handle on the current state of the Internet. In mid-2008, Akamai's rotating world display (bottom) showed it was transmitting more than a trillion bits of data per second. See Akamai.