On content delivery network implementation

Replication of information among multiple servers is mandatory to support high request volume and to prevent flash-crowds. Content Distribution Networks (CDN) are overlay networks aiming at reducing response time experienced by users through locating multiple servers in the edge of the network. There are currently several CDN solutions offered by different vendors, but many aspects of deployment and implementation remain proprietary or unclear. There are some projects related with the open implementation and modelling of CDN but all of them are focused to a certain scope and application. We propose a general model and architecture for an open CDN implementation using COTS technology. We have deployed and tested the CDN in a controlled environment and also in an operational environment in the Technical University of Valencia. The main contribution of this paper is to provide an open general model for a CDN and the performance evaluation of our implementation.