CDN, or both content delivery network and content distribution network, is the system of servers that are distributed geographically and help transport media files.
Those networks help eliminate the bottleneck of traffic and offer content with only a single server by offering images, text, and even videos to edge areas across the globe. Thus, the edge servers can share the huge burden with the main server. This same thing happens in the case of video CDN.
When you try to stream a specific video from a CDN, the closest edge server tries to provide it. That server will either need to send a request to another server or have the media files cached. CDNs streamline delivery works by providing content from the local servers instead of directly sending it from the distant origin server.
What is the working procedure of a video CDN?
A CDN uses a network of extensive servers placed around the world strategically to distribute different video streams at a good speed. When a stream goes live or posted, it becomes available to everyone by populating all over the globe. When a user selects the play option, the CDN server closest to him provides it.
This way, after the stream has been started, the media files become ready for other users in the same location. The streaming content is delivered through the dedicated servers with the help of RTMP or Real-Time Messaging Protocol.
In these recent times, providing video content with the help of CDN prevents stream crashes and buffering by offering copies of important media files. Even in the case of live broadcasts, this specific functionality related to caching creates a big difference.
The cached segments from a particular live stream can handle the lag down of startup to sub-five seconds. Moreover, it can reduce the load of the main server and hence, ensures a more reliable viewing experience.
What are the benefits of using video CDN services?
The CDNs create highways that can reduce the time it takes to offer video streams to the end-users. This can be done by connecting different servers across the world. Here are the advantages of streaming with the help of a video CDN.
1. Quality
Streaming with the help of a CDN enables you to gain the best user experience. Those CDNs can easily minimize delays and buffering by using the speedy highways to send those streams to a large number of audiences around the world. Whenever your local network or ISP slows down, the CDN will help you to bypass the traffic.
2. Scalability
This is another crucial benefit that you can enjoy while using a video CDN. Through this, you can deliver your content to your viewers in the most reliable and fastest way possible. CDNs can help by accommodating live audiences larger than your expectation and viral viewership spikes.
3. Speed
As CDNs can distribute content to those edge servers quickly, the content delivered by them does not bog down by the long physical distance or even local network issues. Thus, you can enjoy greater speed while using the video CDN solutions.
Therefore, a video CDN can help its users in several ways with its effective services.
