CDN Communication: Choosing the best Provider for your Needs
Today, there are numerous CDN communication providers. Analyzing CDN providers is a critical factor to consider before choosing one. It is worth mentioning that there are other general guidelines you should follow. Here is a detailed framework of content delivery networks to help you select the best provider for your specific needs.
CDN Communication Principle Values
The value of a CDN communication platform comes down to:
- Efficiency
- Speed
- Monitoring
- Reliability
When it comes to the speed of a CDN communication platform, various terms are involved. These include throughput, bandwidth, jitter, and latency. However, the idea of speed hardly reveals the best performing component. The fastest or best CDN is what users see as opposed to individual metrics.
You cannot evaluate a CDN exclusively from the feature or technical availability aspect. Instead, you should assess it based on its monitoring and functional effectiveness. Remember, a CDN communication platform is not only about technical features and PoP structure. For instance, a DIY content delivery network can function well in specific tests in certain geographical locations. However, the same platform may fail operationally as a result of lacking a proper understanding of how it is managed.
Key Factors to Consider when Choosing a CDN Provider
Multiple CDN Designs
When assessing the performance of content delivery network companies, you should consider the design. Remember, design is critical in determining how the CDN communication platform will respond to specific performance tests. The two CDN designs are:
- Conventional design of broadly distributed small PoPs
- The advanced design of Mega PoPs in the major IXP (internet exchange points)
The design you choose is critical when it comes to evaluating CDN efficiency metrics. These two designs have pros and cons, especially during performance assessment in various geographical locations like Latin America, India, Europe, and North America.
Mega PoP structures are ideal in countries with intelligent and mature peering relationships. Even then, a smaller dispersed PoP design would be suitable for India and Latin America, where peering relationships are still developing.
A broadly distributed smaller PoP structure is appropriate from the aspect of latency tests. Still, they come with a higher cache hit ratio because they cannot handle plenty of data like the bigger Mega PoP. Due to this, you should test with a wide range of performance metrics as opposed to latency only, which many testers assess.
The best CDN providers depend on individual solution needs where your access network is based. If your access network is based in a single location, then connecting to a smaller PoP within the specific area would be ideal.
CDN Communication Relationships
The relationship between a local internet service provider and the CDN communication platform can influence the latter’s functionality. Big CDN providers may have little chance of penetrating the market if the local providers have enhanced peering relationships with ISPs in their locality.
Effective Performance Principle
Effective performance assessment is critical for CDN. There are various areas to look into to facilitate proper analysis, as seen below.
- TCP connection times
- Throughput and Bandwidth
- Latency
- DNS lookup times
- Cache hit times
- Content download
- Time-to-first byte
- Round trip times
Understanding Latency
Latency is the amount of time it takes to discharge and obtain a packet among two endpoints. It thrives everywhere, and everything supports latency. Latency is available in the stack, network conditions, and hardware. High latency reduces effectiveness, and you should always strive to achieve low latency CDN communication amid two endpoints. The only method of reducing latency is to bring endpoints closer. It is worth noting that latency should not be the only performance metric for assessment. You can measure latency by launching the ping command.
About Ping
Ping is a critical network diagnostic component used to evaluate the convenience of a target node. Often, it is the beginning point for performance assessment and diagnostic troubleshooting. Ping does not strain the bandwidth link and discharges only a minimal amount of data. It circulates a message to a CDN communication server and awaits a response.
Ping also distributes the ICMP echo-request to the destination area and awaits an ICMP echo-feedback. It calculates possible packet loss and the round trip. However, it is worth noting that Ping is ICMP-based, which means it does not constitute an assessment as a TCP-based operation.
Finally
The CDN communication monitoring strategy you choose should complement and add value to your business. Always assess the effects of your preferred metrics on users before adopting it. Remember, you will need robust and effective tools to evaluate your user’s experience.
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