Abstract: Current and Next Generation Content Distribution Techniques

Moderator: Bill Norton, Equinix
Panelists:
Evan Baer, SkyCache
Peter Danzig, Akamai
Holly Pease, Digital Island

Content distribution methods include techniques such as:

  • Making DNS resolution dependant on topological distance
  • Assigning a single IP address for multiple machines routed according to some metric
  • Backing multicasting off to unicasting, based upon encountered congestion
  • "Best routing, least congested path application-layer routing"
  • Hashing algorithms/randomized content distribution
  • Although each of these higher-layer techiques makes decisions based upon assumptions and measurements of ISP services, the Content Distributor and ISP communities haven't yet discussed these techniques in an open forum. This panel discusses the validity of these assumptions, the implementation of various content distribution techniques, and the impact of those technicques on the infrastructure.

    Topics discussed include how various content distribution systems work, what dynamics the techniques take into account, what measurements are made to make the distribution decision, and what results validate the performance of the various distribution techniques.


    About the Presenters
    As Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at Equinix, Bill Norton focuses his attention on building strategic relationships among companies participating at the Internet Business Exchanges. Previously, he was the Chair of NANOG and Manager of the Internet Engineering Group at Merit, leading a variety of national and international network research and operations projects.

    Evan Baer is a senior engineer at SkyCache. Before joining SkyCache, Baer consulted on Internet projects for DEC and Time Warner, and was a partner in Evolution, a software development firm in New York City.

    PowerPoint presentation
    HTML presentation

    Holly Pease joined Digital Island in 1997 as Director of Network Engineering. Prior to her role at Digital Island, Holly designed and implemented networks worldwide for Visa International, including Visa's Secure Electronic Transactions (SET) infrastructure.

    Presentation slides

    Peter Danzig

    HTML presentation