What is CDN & how does it work in an OTT landscape?

One of the most important aspects of any streaming architecture remains its CDN. By virtually reducing the distance between the server and the user, it improves start up time of a video, minimizing latency to a great extent for geographically dispersed audiences. Through a caching mechanism, a CDN brings content closer to the viewer by reducing TATs.

In this video, you’ll get to understand why a content delivery network typically quickens video delivery whilst eliminating data loss no matter how far your audience resides from the chief streaming server. In other words, an over-the-top platform can ensure the best QoE (Quality of Experience) with a buffer-free distribution of content.

(00:10) Issue of network congestion
(00:17) Need for optimal video delivery
(00:32) Significance of CDN
(00:39) CDN mechanism
(00:42) Functions of a CDN

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FAQs

1. How does instituting a CDN ensure low latency video delivery?

By caching out content via a chain of globally-distributed servers, a CDN delivers videos quicker, fostering improved start time when a user clicks the playback button.

2. Can a CDN restrict DDoS attacks?

Distributed Denial of Service is a breaching attack that spams the streaming server with multiple user requests. However, since a DRM involves content delivery through multiple access points, DDoS threats can easily be battled with.

3. Does CDN support scalability?

Since a CDN architecture involves multiple servers spread across geographies, streaming platforms can target global audiences at ease and not worry about network congestion.

4. How to choose the best CDN for my streaming platform?

There are a variety of factors including i) the number of servers in the network ii) geographic distribution iii) budget iv) average throughput to be analyzed before partnering with a publicly accessed CDN.

5. What is ‘stream crash’ and how to eliminate one?

Unresponsive playback due to network congestion leads to a situation called ‘stream crash’. A content delivery network evens out the traffic and streamlines video distribution through PoPs to eliminate streaming failure.