Table Of Contents
Introducing Cisco Application and Content Networking System Software
Introduction to Cisco Content Delivery Networking Products
Introducing Cisco Application and Content Networking System Software
This chapter introduces Cisco Application and Content Networking System (ACNS) software and contains the following sections:
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Introduction to Cisco Content Delivery Networking Products
Introduction to Cisco Content Delivery Networking Products
Cisco content delivery networking products include ACNS software and the content networking hardware devices that use ACNS software. Together these products are the components of a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which is a complete system that includes content routing, content switching, content distribution and management, and content services, as well as content delivery. A CDN is composed of Content Engines, Content Routers, and Content Distribution Managers that all run ACNS software.
ACNS Software Overview
ACNS is a software platform that unifies the Cisco Cache software and Cisco Enterprise Content Delivery Network (E-CDN) software into a single software platform. ACNS software allows you to access Cache application features and E-CDN application features from a single software base. ACNS software is supported on Content Engines, Content Distribution Managers, and Content Routers. (See the "Hardware Overview" section.)
E-CDN Application Overview
The E-CDN application offers accelerated content delivery, hosting, and other content-based services. It addresses the need to distribute and receive high-bandwidth, media-rich content across the Internet or an intranet without performance losses or content delivery delays.
When the ACNS E-CDN application is enabled, Content Engines, Content Routers, Content Services Switches, and Content Distribution Managers can be deployed to create a complete Content Delivery Network system that includes content routing, content switching, content distribution and management, and content services, as well as content delivery. Figure 1-1 shows a typical Enterprise Content Delivery Network topology.
Figure 1-1 Cisco Enterprise Content Delivery Network Topology
For more information on how the E-CDN application software operates within a Content Delivery Network, refer to the Cisco ACNS Software E-CDN Administrator's Guide.
Cache Application Overview
ACNS software provides content caching capabilities that accelerate content delivery and optimize bandwidth usage by caching frequently accessed content and fulfilling content requests locally rather than traversing the Internet or intranet to a distant server each time a request is made. The ACNS software Cache application can work in tandem with Cisco IOS routing software to handle web traffic, including user requests to view pages and graphics (objects) on World Wide Web servers—whether internal or external to your network.
For more information on how objects are cached and redirected across your network, refer to the Cisco ACNS Software Caching Configuration Guide.
Hardware Overview
The following table lists the content delivery networking hardware models that are supported and not supported in ACNS software:
