Juniper Networks and Akamai Technologies have announced an elastic Content Delivery Network (CDN) system, designed to enable network operators to address network scalability challenges driven by the rapid increase in video traffic. The new CDN solution leverages Akamai’s virtualized Aura Licensed CDN (LCDN) software and Juniper Networks Contrail Controller for SDN and network function virtualization.
Video consumption has shifted dramatically from a relatively predictive and controlled model to one that is highly dynamic, driven by large traffic spikes during online live and on-demand events. Streaming large live events and popular on-demand titles can cause significant network congestion that leads to a poor subscriber experience, brand erosion and customer turnover.
To address the scalability challenge, Akamai is collaborating with Juniper Networks to announce this on-network Elastic CDN solution. Unlike previous approaches which required dedicated hardware, long lead times and extensive planning to add capacity, the Elastic CDN solution running on virtualization platforms would leverage Juniper Networks Contrail to quickly configure virtual network resources within a virtual CDN, and allow additional caching capacity to be deployed in minutes instead of weeks.
The combined CDN solution would enable users to dynamically scale up and down network resources to support content spikes resulting from the broadcast of large events. The technology is also designed to accelerate service creation for managed hosting services providers utilizing CDNs to launch innovative multiscreen video services.
OpenStack environment
The Elastic CDN is highly distributed and virtually networked to enable efficient use of resources. Operating in an OpenStack environment, the combined solution is designed to help reduce time and cost associated with adding new caching capacity to the network, decreasing both capital and operational expense.
“As a pioneer and innovator in the CDN space, Akamai has always embraced new approaches to content delivery which can help our customers provide a seamless end user experience to their subscribers,” said Anand Parikh, senior director of Business Development, Akamai. “By working together with Juniper, and combining our expertise in media delivery with their expertise in NFV and SDN, we’re demonstrating how the concept of an Elastic CDN solution can meet the ever-increasing demands of multiscreen content delivery.”
