Configure optimization strategies for CDN and MediaTailor integrations - AWS Elemental MediaTailor

Configure optimization strategies for CDN and MediaTailor integrations

When you complete your traffic estimation, configure your content delivery network (CDN) to optimize content delivery and ad personalization with AWS Elemental MediaTailor. These optimizations help ensure smooth playback while maintaining targeted advertising.

Implement these specific CDN optimizations that follow:

  1. Configure origin shield capabilities in your CDN to reduce load on MediaTailor and improve caching efficiency. Origin shield acts as an intermediary caching layer that:

    • Consolidate multiple viewer requests into a single origin request

    • Reduce the number of redundant requests to MediaTailor

    • Improve the response times for the cached content

    For implementation details on setting up origin shield with CloudFront, see Using Origin Shield in the CloudFront Developer Guide.

  2. Set appropriate Time To Live (TTL) values for different content types. TTL determines how long the CDN caches content. After this time, the CDN requests a fresh copy from the origin:

    • Manifests:

      • 0 seconds for ad insertion

      • 5-10 seconds for channel assembly

      In ad insertion, MediaTailor provides manifests with ads personalized to the viewer. If a playlist or MPD is cached and served to the wrong playback device, the device could encounter playback or tracking issues.

    • Content segments: 24 or more hours (these rarely change and you can cache them aggressively to reduce origin load)

    • Ad segments: 24 or more hours (ad content is typically reused across viewers and you can cache it for extended periods)

    For comprehensive TTL recommendations and caching optimization strategies across all MediaTailor workflows, see Caching optimization for CDN and MediaTailor integrations.

    For detailed instructions on configuring cache behaviors in CloudFront, see Cache Behavior Settings in the CloudFront Developer Guide.

  3. Deploy CDN edge nodes close to your viewer populations. Work with your CDN provider to:

    • Identify optimal edge node locations based on viewer demographics

    • Ensure sufficient capacity in each region

    • Monitor edge performance and adjust as needed

    For implementation guidance, see CloudFront edge locations to identify available edge locations for your audience regions.

  4. For global audiences, consider implementing a multi-CDN strategy. This approach:

    • Uses multiple CDN providers to improve reliability

    • Routes viewers to the best-performing CDN for their location

    • Provides failover options during CDN outages

    • Can optimize costs by leveraging different pricing models

    For implementation details, see Multi-CDN strategies on the AWS Networking & Content Delivery Blog.