Quick Reference: CDNs

A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a geographically distributed network of servers that helps deliver content (such as web pages, images, videos, etc.) to users from servers that are geographically closer to them, resulting in faster page load times and better user experience.

A CDN typically works by storing cached copies of a website’s content on multiple servers distributed across different geographic locations, called edge servers. When a user requests content from the website, the CDN automatically redirects the request to the server that is geographically closest to the user, reducing latency and minimizing network congestion. The CDN also helps to distribute network load and protect against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, among other benefits.

Edge servers are a key component of CDN architecture. They are small-scale data centers that are strategically placed in multiple distributed locations around the world, as close to end-users as possible. 

When a user requests content from a website, the nearest edge server to the user intercepts the request and serves the cached content that exists on that edge server itself. If the content is not available, the edge server pulls it from the origin server, caches it locally, and then serves it to the requesting user.

Edge servers are designed to handle high traffic loads and to deliver content with low latency and minimal network congestion. They help improve the performance and reliability of websites by reducing the distance that data needs to travel, and by distributing network load across multiple servers.

25 CDN companies and what broadcasters generally use them for:

1. Akamai – Used for live streaming, software downloads and website optimization.
2. Cloudflare – Used for DDoS protection, load balancing and website optimization.
3. Amazon CloudFront – Used for video on demand streaming, software downloads and website optimization.
4. Fastly – Used for video streaming, website acceleration and API acceleration.
5. Limelight – Used for online video, gaming, file downloads and website acceleration.
6. Google Cloud CDN – Used for website optimization and application delivery.
7. Verizon Digital Media Services – Used for video streaming, website acceleration and security.
8. StackPath – Used for website security, bandwidth savings and website acceleration.
9. CDN77 – Used for video streaming and website acceleration.
10. KeyCDN – Used for website acceleration and video streaming.
11. Microsoft Azure CDN – Used for website optimization, application delivery and video streaming.
12. OnApp – Used for website acceleration and cloud-based applications.
13. Rackspace Cloud Files – Used for data storage and content delivery.
14. Internap – Used for CDN and hosting services.
15. Instart Logic – Used for website and application acceleration.
16. CenturyLink CDN – Used for media streaming and website acceleration.
17. CDN.net – Used for website acceleration and video streaming.
18. BelugaCDN – Used for website acceleration and content delivery.
19. G-Core Labs – Used for website acceleration, video streaming and gaming.
20. Tata Communications – Used for online video, website acceleration and content delivery.
21. Mirror Image – Used for website acceleration and video streaming.
22. CacheFly – Used for website acceleration and video streaming.
23. Varnish Software – Used for website acceleration and API acceleration.
24. Aryaka – Used for cloud-based network and application acceleration.
25. Highwinds – Used for content delivery, live video streaming and website acceleration.

Note: This list is not exhaustive and there are more CDN companies in the market.

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