Content Delivery Network (CDN) is great and beneficial. In present days the need for fast and reliable access to any type of content is crucial. That is why it is more important than ever to understand what actually stands behind it. So, let’s take a minute to explain a little bit more about it. 

Content Delivery Network (CDN) explained.

Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a complex solution that focuses on delivering content to clients quickly by applying routing and cache mechanisms. The servers are positioned in very precise locations and cover a wide geographical area. They cache the data (code, videos, images), and the aim is to be as closer as possible to potential visitors. As a result, the clients receive reliable, fast service. In addition, CDN acts as a load balancing mechanism that is going to reduce the pressure on the primary server.

History of CDN

How does Content Delivery Network (CDN) work?

CDN requires an extensive network of servers for caching the data, content that will be spread to particular customers in various locations. Therefore, a well-established infrastructure is key. For that reason, CDN providers determine their PoPs strategically. They analyze the Internet exchange points (IXPs), the physical infrastructure that Internet service providers (ISP) use. On those precise IXPs, speed and placement are the most beneficial. The providers of CDN have to make a decision because having PoPs in each of the possible IXP is going to be very pricy.

Next, thanks to the GeoDNS tech, the visitors of the website are connected to the nearest and fastest server. Moreover, this valuable connection is not relying on receiving the data from the web hosting. It saves a lot of time, which is crucial for these businesses.

Content Delivery Network includes the usage of infrastructure that already exists, and these providers do not own.

CDN providers offer their services, and their customers use them for delivering their content to their users. Yet, CDNs make payments to the carriers, Internet service providers, and network operators for utilizing their data centers to host CDNs’ servers.

Benefits

• Great speed. The request of the users travel in a short distance, and their answer is provided quickly. The nearest secondary server which has the content available in its cache provides it to the user.
• The efficient and quick response does not depend only on web hosting.
• CDN PoPs are placed on IXPs, and for that reason, you have the advantage of high speed and strategic position. Your users can access your content quickly and accurately each time they want it.
• Improved uptime. Thanks to the many servers that cache the information, if one of them experiences difficulties or is down for some reason (maintenance or attack), the rest will be able to respond. 
• Less bandwidth. The majority of the request of the users are going to be handled by the secondary servers which are near them. So, the primary server is going to be in need way less. If you think about simply the bandwidth that videos need to be loaded, that is not an unimportant advantage at all.