Question

CDNs typically adopt one of two different server placement philosophies. Name and briefly describe these two philosophies.

Short answer

"Enter Deep" uses many small, dispersed servers; "Bring Home" uses fewer, centralized servers.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

We need to identify and describe two types of server placement philosophies used by Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). This involves knowing what a CDN is and then exploring how these servers can be distributed to optimize content delivery.

Identify the First Philosophy - "Enter Deep"

The "Enter Deep" strategy involves placing a large number of server locations in various geographic locations. This philosophy focuses on deploying small clusters of servers extensively to position them closer to users, thereby reducing latency and improving content delivery speed.

Identify the Second Philosophy - "Bring Home"

The "Bring Home" strategy, on the other hand, focuses on placing fewer server locations that are large and centrally located. This strategy relies on centralizing content in larger data centers that serve broader geographic areas, often utilizing well-connected network nodes to efficiently distribute content.

Key concepts

Server Placement in CDNs

Server placement is a critical aspect of content delivery networks (CDNs). Essentially, it involves the strategic positioning of servers to optimize the delivery of content across various regions. By placing servers closer to users, CDNs can reduce the time it takes for data to travel over the internet, thus ensuring faster access and improved user experience.

In a CDN, there are two main strategies for server placement: the "Enter Deep" strategy and the "Bring Home" strategy. Each of these methods has its unique advantages and is employed based on the service provider's goals and the nature of the content being delivered. Choosing the right server placement philosophy can greatly influence the performance and efficiency of the CDN.

Enter Deep Strategy

The "Enter Deep" strategy is about deploying many servers across numerous locations. This approach involves setting up a network of smaller, widely dispersed servers that extend deep into the internet's network edge, right next to user bases.

• Proximity to Users: By establishing servers close to users, this strategy reduces latency, the time delay experienced in data transmission.
• Enhanced Speed: With reduced distance, data can reach users faster, improving load times and overall content delivery speed.
• Local Cache Efficiency: These servers can cache content locally, decreasing the burden on the origin servers and enhancing performance for regional users.

Despite the advantages, the enter deep strategy requires a substantial investment in server infrastructure and network management, as it involves maintaining numerous server points globally. This can complicate the logistics but can also offer unparalleled speed and reliability in content delivery.

Bring Home Strategy

In contrast, the "Bring Home" strategy focuses on centralizing content delivery. This approach sets up a few large-scale server centers, which operate as central hubs for distributing content across vast geographic areas.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Fewer server locations mean less infrastructure investment, often resulting in lowered costs for server setup and maintenance.
• Streamlined Management: With centralized control, managing data flow and updates becomes simpler and more efficient.
• Efficient Network Utilization: These hubs are connected to major internet nodes, ensuring that they can handle significant loads and maintain high-speed data transmission over long distances.

The bring home strategy, however, does mean the physical distance between users and servers can be larger. This can increase latency slightly, although advanced network technologies help to mitigate this effect. Providers may choose this strategy when their user base is spread out and cost efficiency is a priority.