A Content Delivery Network (CDN) can help your websites load more quickly while decreasing the load on your own server. But how do you know which type of CDN service will work best for you?
CDN Review
The Liquid Web CDN improves your website’s load time by taking all of your site’s media (pictures, music, etc.) and distributing it to a worldwide caching network. When a visitor reaches your CDN-enabled websites they will receive the basic elements (text, framework code, etc.) from your server as normal, but all of the media will be handled by the CDN’s worldwide network of caching servers (also referred to as “nodes”).
Because media files are almost always much larger in size than text elements, the CDN takes a lot of the workload off of your server. Please note that the Liquid Web CDN is only for use with media files and does not handle databases or other server-side functions. Database activity and other functions will continue to be handled by your server.
It is also important to note that adding CDN services to your server requires modifications to your website’s code. If you are using a Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc. then these changes can be easily made using the CMS software itself. If your website was custom-built and does not have a CDN option in the CMS interface, you will need to consult your site’s developer for assistance in implementing CDN code changes.
CDN Types
Origin Pull
This type of CDN service does not require any upload to the CDN network ahead of time. When using Origin Pull the CDN node network will check to see if it contains the media elements required by your page/site, and if it does not it will pull the files from your server and cache them in the CDN network.
Origin Pull is best suited for web sites that are updated multiple times per day with no scheduled interval. Blogs with several contributing writers who publish stories throughout the day are just one example of a type of web site that would benefit from Origin Pull CDN.
Origin Pull pricing is dictated by the amount of monthly bandwidth your media will need, and can be upgraded at any time.
Origin Storage
As implied by the name, Origin Storage CDN service requires a proactive upload of your media to the CDN before it can be utilized on your websites. This is accomplished using an “ingress point” server on the CDN network. Once your data has been uploaded to the ingress point it is then distributed to the rest of the CDN automatically.
Data uploads to the CDN when using Origin Storage can be handled using any popular file transfer method such as FTP or rsync. When activating Origin Storage CDN there is typically one large initial upload followed by scheduled, periodic syncs that will upload any new data to the CDN.
Origin Storage is best suited for websites that update their content on a specific schedule, a couple times per day or less. Frequent daily updates to a site, even if scheduled, are almost always better off using Origin Pull instead of Origin Storage.
Origin Storage pricing is based on two items: the amount of storage space your media will need, and the monthly bandwidth your media will use. As with the other CDN types this pricing can be updated at any time once you are using the CDN.
Live Streaming
Live Streaming CDN service is specifically meant for live events such as concerts, political rallies, fashion shows, or any other kind of live performance you wish to stream online.
It is important to note that Live Streaming CDN is not for simple video streaming of recorded content and is only used for live video.
Live Streaming CDN requires additional hardware and software on the customer’s end (not in our datacenters) which is used to create the initial stream which is then relayed through the CDN nodes. Common software utilized by the customer’s media server at the event location include Microsoft Smooth Streaming, Adobe Flash (RTMP and HTTP Dynamic Streaming) and Apple HTTP Live Streaming. Customers seeking to utilize Live Streaming CDN services will need to purchase their own hardware and software for this purpose as Liquid Web does not provide these resources.
Tell Me More
For more information regarding the Liquid Web CDN, or if you would like to order the CDN for your existing Liquid Web account, please see our CDN product page.
If you have additional question regarding the CDN you can at open a ticket with our Sales team, or you can call us at the number below.
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Liquid Web’s Heroic Support is always available to assist customers with this or any other issue. If you need our assistance please contact us:
Toll Free 1.800.580.4985
International 517.322.0434
support@liquidweb.com
https://manage.liquidweb.com/
