CDN Featured Article

Content delivery can be a tricky and cumbersome proposition in today’s cloud-based and application and service-centric networks. Most legacy content delivery networks (CDNs) are simply not constructed or equipped to handle the vigorous and fluctuating demands of cloud computing.

Teridion takes a different approach to CDN, applying the best principles of software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) to provide a next-gen CDN solution that is surprisingly easy to deploy and manage. The company recently published a blog post explaining how content providers can adopt its service, regardless of their existing infrastructure.

The simple task of accessing data from a web server, for instance, requires a request that must pass through several edge routers, depending on how far that request needs to travel. This can take up precious time, and the data must be returned back to the requester along the same or similar path. DNS is making changes behind the scenes while all this is happening, in the form of a CNAME change designed to improve the end user experience. This CNAME is actually the key to faster performance and an easier overall experience.

“When you decide you’ve had enough of regular Internet, and are ready for something better, all it takes is a CNAME change in your DNS and you’ll be riding the Teridion network to your destination,” writes the company. The Teridion management system (TMS) works by syncing with DNS to offer redundancy and an extra layer of monitoring during content delivery. The Teridion Cloud Router (TCR) handles inbound and outbound routing, directing traffic more efficiently and avoiding typical Internet and cloud bottlenecks.

Teridion’s content delivery solution works dynamically, without the need for on premises hardware appliances. But in an interesting twist, the system doesn’t require software either, making it lightweight and free of cumbersome and time consuming software updates and management hassles. The solution works simply using global DNS and CNAME changes, offering customers massive efficiencies and cost savings while keeping up with the pace of today’s content demands and requirements.