 |
|
|
| |
Tooling Around: Gary Crocke On CacheLogic's Velocix CDN
by Alistair Wallis [PC, Console/PC]
|
|
| |
|
July 20, 2007
|
| |
For the next part in Gamasutra’s ‘Tooling Around’ feature, which profiles and interviews middleware and tools developers about their products, today’s interview is with Gary Crocke from CacheLogic about its Velocix peer-assisted content delivery network.
Velocix is the flagship CDN for CacheLogic and provides a “a global footprint of fixed infrastructure” with “all the guarantees, operational support, and content management one would expect”. The system is optimized for the delivery of multi-gigabyte files, and provides a cost effective way of distributing content, allowing users to control the speed and delivery method of content, providing the choice to use, for example, slower speeds for older demos and a higher speed for critical patches.
We spoke to Crocke recently, and asked about CacheLogic and Velocix, and its benefits for online distribution.
When and why was CacheLogic formed and what were the goals of the company at the time?
CacheLogic was founded in 2002. The company sold P2P caching devices to Internet service providers to help them manage the impact of P2P on their networks. CacheLogic is a global provider of Content Delivery Network services. With its flexible delivery services, CacheLogic has revolutionized both the "mechanics" and economics of content delivery, enabling the Internet to become the preferred delivery mechanism for large digital media assets.
How did you realise the need for a product like Velocix?
In early 2006, we saw the global demand increase for large digital media assets delivered over the Internet and realized the strain this growth was placing on existing delivery mechanisms. We'd built the new service to evolve CDN business models and technology to cope with online delivery of large digital media assets.
What was the development time on the product, and what challenges did you run into in preparing the product for industry use?
We started developing the service and rolling out the network early in 2006. Early in 2007 we started to sell CDN services. The main challenges were to build and deploy the global network and the asset-based traffic management and reporting software that goes along with that.
How has the product developed over the time you've been producing it?
We've expanded the network into three main geographies (North America, Europe, Asia) and introduced new configurable Class of Service capabilities to the CDN industry, including unique asset delivery, pricing, billing and reporting.
How have you acted on feedback to improve the product?
We are extremely committed to our customers and have allowed them to participate in defining the evolution of the service offering. This feedback is evident in the high level feature set.
VelociX is designed for delivery of large digital media assets. VelociX is built from the ground-up with unique asset-based traffic management capabilities to meet the performance demands of large digital content. The network provides content owners with a seamless, end-to-end managed service for the publication and high-speed delivery of large digital media to mass audiences.
Was cost effectiveness always a major focus throughout the development of Velocix?
We've really focused on differentiating ourselves in the CDN space with new and exciting features that enable our customers to differentiate their online offerings. Part of this includes features to enable overall cost reduction for our customers.
What are some of the more notable examples of the product's use?
We have customers today in the gaming, video and software spaces. The ideal application is for large digital asset delivery - especially the high performance and low cost delivery of games, patches and updates.
Rather than having a flat price and performance for all traffic, VelociX lets you assign a delivery speed and cost to each asset - so assets requiring high performance can get it, and assets requiring low cost delivery can get it, all with the same solution. This allows you to save on the total cost of content delivery while ensuring in-demand assets get the performance they need. With VelociX, you can reduce your content delivery costs by 25 to 80%.
VelociX has fine-grained asset-based reporting where exact costs and revenue for each asset is known. This enables you to understand the real asset delivery costs with a simple billing and delivery model and relates business and delivery costs to top line revenue via simple reporting tools. This facility to let you to create accurate charge-back models to business units for actual usage is also a critical component.
Who is currently using the product?
I can't reveal specifics here, but look for notable customer announcements throughout the summer.
What do you see as the next evolution of Velocix?
Our vision is to move content delivery from a cost center to a profit center - enabling new revenue opportunities for our customers by using CDN services. In the coming months, we'll be evolving the service to align with this vision.
|
| |
|
|
Otlix - Content Delivery Network - CDN
Otlix™ has been dedicated to optimize the use of media since 2006, and provides Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, promotion and advertising solutions for traditional media companies, advertising networks, movie studios, social media.
Our web-based service, OtRider™, is a Rich Internet Application (RIA) that provides a single, integrated front-end control console for managing all of the CDN services. OtRider™ includes inter alia, critical functions that simplify tracking processes, enables cross channel, Analytics and Statistics, Essential Reporting and streamline integration with technology components, whilst ensuring data security and compliance.
OtRider™ is the simplest way to give you the ability to hold the reins.
In 2009, Otlix™ led Digital Campaigns for a variety of formats, AD Contents, Internet Banners including Rich Media and Stream Video for brands.
Otlix™ Core Systems are serving all major markets worldwide; this allows customers to deploy Global Operation with guaranteed service level, integrated metrics receiving partner.
Our loyal customers' base is our key to success. We are ready to listen to our customers and will do anything to satisfy the needs of each customer, regardless of size or type of business.
At Otlix™, we welcome and encourage your feedback and we thrive on your accomplishments.
Otlix.com CDN, Digital Media, Storage, High Speed Network, Delivering Large Files, Ads Solutions, lead Campaign, banners, internet banners, delivery, promotion, content, CDN solution, storage, bandwidth, Otlix CDN, OtRider, statistical, analytics, large distribute content, digital media, media agency, creative, advertiser, publisher ,streaming , flash ,swf, flv, gif, jpg, Otlix Promotional advertising , reporting, analytics and statistical, Delivering Large Files, Newsletters services ,backups archive solutions, content distribution network, high-speed, network, content delivery, HD, windows media streaming, flash streaming, content delivery network, adobe, windows media, live streaming, rich media , Otlix Content Delivery Network, Promotional advertising, live streaming, rich media , Otlix Content Delivery Network, Promotional advertising
http://www.otlix.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Technology
CDN-Overview
As we all know, nowadays fast-growing companies and organizations are launching to the web in order to reach their customers to provide them fast digital media content.
Major companies are streaming live or on-demand video, and making large files available to view, browse and download to your local and global audience.
We are the address for supporting your digital media strategic needs.
Content Delivery Network Services
A new powerful service, Essential Delivery, which delivers fast, accurate and stable content engine, makes dreams come reality. Face it to believe it.
Our CDN was designed and built to meet and transform all of your delivery needs, especially for the largest media and entertainment companies.
CDN helps users to resolve distributive storage problems, assists loading balance, re-direction of network request and its content management all at once.
It is designed to deliver the content on website to the "edge"… closest to the users’ environment to enable them to acquire their required content at hand, solve internet network congestion, as well as improving response to website visits by adding a new layer of global load balancing architecture on the internet.
Technically, it completely solves the fundamental problems caused by slow response to users’ request while accessing due to insufficient bandwidth, massive accesses and uneven distributed network nodes.
http://www.otlix.com/our_technology.php?page=cdn
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OtRider™
OtRider™ is a Rich Internet Application (RIA) that provides a single, integrated front end control console for managing all of the CDN services includes critical functions that simplify keeping track processes, enable cross channel, statistics, analytics optimizing loading Essential Reporting and streamline integration with technology components, while ensuring data secure, stable and compliance.
OtRider™ simplifies the right tools, streamlines the process and enhances your view. OtRider™ gives a clear and customizable road map: an intuitive guide to get your company’s needs ready to provide powerful analytics.
OtRider™ was initially built mainly for huge agencies that have a major level of database. Along the way, we have learnt how to optimize and improve DNS processes and cut them from six or seven clicks down to one or two.
We added new startup innovations that will literally shave hours out of your workweek.
Start thinking what to do with all the extra time you're saving.
http://www.otlix.com/our_technology.php?page=otRider
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Load Balancing Architecture
Otlix™ Global Load Balancing Architecture is mainly used for routing algorithms to route users directly to the POP that will serve them the fastest.
POP is taking many factors into transforming algorithms, including: the number of network hoops to the end-user, the exact geographic location of the user in the world, Internet congestion along the route to the end user and how many different networks that a user would travel through to access the content.
Otlix™ CDN use multi-level DNS to attempt to triangulate the position of a user to determine its exact best location, so no matter where that user's DNS server is located, the user is located and delivers accordingly.
Our GLBA helps you and us as well to tap into both public and private inter-network peering opportunities available to us at these exchange points. Our clients are able to take full advantage of Otlix™ CDN architecture with complete global coverage and local POPs.
Presence at key exchange points around the world ensures that their services are optimized to be the most cost-effective.
http://www.otlix.com/our_technology.php?page=global_load_balancing_architecture
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otlix Implement Acceleration
As we all know even the best designed websites will lose existing customers along their potential if surfing experience is not fast, compelling and satisfying.
Even if your edge servers are optimized, and your website is designed well, inherent internet latency and congestion can cause delays and other performance problems.
These problems are magnified for non-cacheable content due to a greater dependency on the edge servers and the distance between an end-user and the edge destination server.
Otlix™ Implement Acceleration solves these problems by optimizing the middle mile, enabling a super stable paralleled end-user experience.
OtRider™ provides proven technology by reducing the number of data roundtrips necessary to a complete stable web request, plus accelerating performance and improving the end-user experience.
Our Customer Satisfaction
With an extremely fast page loading times using Otlix™ engine with a dramatically improved end-user operation, you will enjoy a more satisfying and comfortable online working environment.
Otlix Control
In order to reduce lagging, Otlix™ uses a minimal infrastructure footprint and dynamic traffic routing capabilities that enables a maximum reach and efficiency without compromising quality or reducing performance.
Measurement Improving
We can improve web page response speeds, plus ensure reliability and security through distributed processing technology.
Even at times of unexpected traffic surges or temporary network interruptions, Otlix™ engine will deliver the content everywhere in the world.
Rapid Web Page Loading
Otlix™ creative engine has an enhancement of existing web page loading. Its speed accomplished through accelerated processes that diverse into a complete splitting of the Video Streaming, Internet Banners, AD content and graphic images.
Secure and Failure Solving
Processing and loading of high levels of traffic by using Otlix™ global CDN infrastructure will accomplish a more stable uninterrupted processing.
Otlix™ automatically provides a complete, fast detour route for service when there is a problem with a particular node.
OtRider™ is fundamental smart tool to have.
http://www.otlix.com/our_technology.php?page=otlix_implement_acceleration
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Essential Delivery Services
We are facing to the age of web 2.0 hosting services with the growth of rich media, and the requirement for high level capacity transferring content is becoming hard to maintain, nevertheless, optimum service quality is a critical competitive factor.
Otlix™ delivers extremely fast stable traffic balancing technology, smoothes file synchronization including Essential Delivery Services, as well as its extensive service know-how to help businesses effectively and efficiently manage and deliver content. It is more than just a simple content delivery.
One of the most critical issues is that content downloads disables a large number of users from downloading a variety of digital content at the same time.
Otlix™ enables this option and ensures delivering ultra fast downloads of large files even during traffic peaks and surges, in a stable and fast way.
Delivering Large Files
Every professional weight lifter should be able to endure heavy lifting. When it comes to rich media and high volume data trafficking, we, here at Otlix™, have been through all the lifting workouts for you. Now all that is left for us to do is to impress you.
• Orientated to the delivery of large files - over 4 GB
• Authentication and Digital Rights Management (DRM) for content security
• Download service using several protocols (HTTP/FTP, etc.)
• Optimize the quality of service - sessions are automatically added to guarantee a complete flow and smooth to your rate of speed
Content Stability With SSL
Entering an SSL secure site ensures stability and ease by using SSL authentication certificates.
The SSL caching provides a level of service processes with encryption operation of SSL authentication between the user and the server with a separate caching service.
Primary security synergy with the SSL caching server and secondary security certified content performance improvement.
With SSL caching maintenance cost reduction, the need for high-priced equipment and specialized professional staff will be reduced. Manage SSL scalability flexible expansion options to cope with the traffic increases.
Your peace of mind is a must.
http://www.otlix.com/our_technology.php?page=essential_delivery_services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storage
Our Storage infrastructure is a high-performance Storage platform, high level capacity, high availability Storage for all of their content, accessible via FTP and Web Interface, and is designed to be redundant and scalable. Additionally, Otlix™ can deploy custom Storage solutions at all of our POPs throughout the globe.
Otlix™ will work with you to find the most efficient and cost effective Storage strategy. There are a number of factors that go into the decision making of how to best store content. An intersection of price and availability will determine the right decision for you.
Otlix Edge
For content that is most highly demanded, the best, fastest and most efficient way of delivery is Otlix™ Edge Storage.
We have architected our CDN to allow for nearly instant propagation of your files to each of our POPs worldwide. The file is automatically stored and ready to be delivered, viewed and downloaded. If demand lessens, the file can be moved to origin Storage, where it remains available.
Otlix Source
You can maintain the readiness of your files, while saving on your monthly bill. You can also set parameters around each file to ensure that it lives on the edge when in high demand, and moves back to the origin during slower times.
http://www.otlix.com/our_technology.php?page=storage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Products & Services
Measurement, Placing and Reporting
Imagine a state in which you will know where your investment bears the most fruit. Which one of the commercials takes your business in the best direction it should, and gives you the ability to know which way this is?!
We believe that since it is your resources such as content and bandwidth that are on the line, you should have all the monitoring, tracking and analyzing tools your business needs.
We, here at Otlix™, provide those tools and features in order to make your life easier. Our tools provide complete reporting flexibility with access to new reports on how and when you may need them. Reporting and Analyzing should enable you to lower costs, analyze trends, predict usage patterns and help you improve the performance of your content delivery.
This is the time for you to know which geese are laying the golden eggs.
Analytics and Statistics
We would like to take this opportunity and fill you in on the diverse sorts of services and software solutions we offer. Our statistical software service that is being led by our innovative OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) provides customers with daily statistical reports via personal password protected account.
Here is a glance at our technical abilities:
• Smart system feature which calculates the amount of clicks and views web wide
• Data mining and displaying in desired time ratios. From a 30-minute-window to a yearly report
• Data of your best periods can be gathered and calculated with the possibility to choose specific days, weeks or months for the report
• The system results are displayed by a graph which will present the data in different ways
• Campaign sorting by varied criteria
• Elaborated data with regards to any specific given file
• A full disclosure on the best websites and/or "geographical" location for your content
Rotation and Randomness
You are given the chance to construct a farm house or a skyscraper at the most wanted location and for the same amount of money. What would you choose?
Otlix™ will give you the ability of getting the most out of the advertising space you possess. This ability is powered by our OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA). The procedure, or the "Smart System” feature that takes place, is one in which your most popular files are being selected and weaved together into a single link.
This single link connects those files and represents them randomly.
Instead of acquiring several advertisement spaces, the link which displays the content randomly is adjacent to only one advertisement area.
In doing so, maximum space usage and exposure are guaranteed, as well as costs efficiency.
Real Time Reporting
OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) will let you see the full picture in one place, available in the online reporting interface, and can be re-run as needed.
• Gone are the days of manually combining data
• See the full integrated picture in your favorite analytics system
• Transfer data from OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) database
• All in a secured way which is being monitored 24/7
• Monitoring real time traffic/user connection statistics and disk utilization
http://www.otlix.com/services.php?page=measurement_placing_and_reporting
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Content Management
The ability to quickly and effectively manage your content is the key to a successful CDN solution.
OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) helps you to possess the power of absolute control over all content material in real time.
A full featured browser based content management solution.
OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) follows our customers focus usability principles by displaying a PC browsing environment. The folder arrangement system accustomed to standard computers is fully integrated into the software.
An available delivery system for HTTP (progressive download) content lives in folders and creating a folder that is easy and instantaneous. Once a new folder is created on the CDN, it is immediately ready to store content. OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) supports standard file system behavior, including renaming, file/folder deletion and drag-and-drop operations.
Management Features
From today on, you will find that your closet is much bigger when the clothes are folded. You will stop looking for your car keys.
Arrangement and organization are key factors in success, and together, we will move forward.
• Upload, track, organize, move and delete content
• View content uploading and propagation in real time
• Safeguard content with customized access protection
A key performance differentiator of the OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) CDN is our content differentiate rate. Once you have uploaded content to one of our ingest locations, file delivery to the other POPs is accelerated as it propagates over our backbone, making it available to your customer instantly.
Delivering Large Files
Every professional weight lifter should be able to endure heavy lifting. When it comes to rich media and high volume data trafficking, we, here at Otlix™, have been through all the lifting workouts for you. Now all that is left for us to do is to impress you.
• Orientated to the delivery of large files - over 4 GB
• Authentication and Digital Rights Management (DRM) for content security
• Download service using several protocols (HTTP/FTP, etc.)
• Optimize the quality of service - sessions are automatically added to guarantee a complete flow and smooth to your rate of speed
Content Stability With SSL
Entering an SSL secure site ensures stability and ease by using SSL authentication certificates.
The SSL caching provides a level of service processes with encryption operation of SSL authentication between the user and the server with a separate caching service.
Primary security synergy with the SSL caching server and secondary security certified content performance improvement.
With SSL caching maintenance cost reduction, the need for high-priced equipment and specialized professional staff will be reduced. Manage SSL scalability flexible expansion options to cope with the traffic increases.
Your peace of mind is a must.
http://www.otlix.com/services.php?page=content_management
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsletters Services
Circulation mail messages are basic web selling practice. By identifying and categorizing potential customers, efficient mailing lists can be drafted in order to reach maximum exposure where it is most effective. Identifying and monitoring the circulation lists can be easily done using the OtRider™ Rich Internet Application (RIA) Newsletter Service.
Features include:
• A fixed template of massage can be exported to all of the persons who were added to the service.
• A client can create a registration page by which internet surfers can join the service.
• The system creates a meticulous report of joining surfers and existing ones.
• Monthly pre-designed e-mail sent to a specific mailing list.
http://www.otlix.com/services.php?page=newsletter_services