NetCache, content reporter

A key challenge in optimizing content delivery is the ability to analyze content usage, performance, and infrastructure load across the entire content delivery network (CDN). Network Appliance offers its customers a unique solution to this challenge with its ContentReporter application. ContentReporter integrates seamlessly with NetApp appliances to provide network administrators a comprehensive, simple, flexible, and scalable method to gauge the effectiveness of their content delivery system. Enterprises, Internet service providers (ISPs), content delivery networks, and content providers can now gain visibility to file usage patterns, activity levels, and error rates for both streaming and Web-based content. ContentReporter provides the capability to proactively manage the content delivery infrastructure and plan for future growth.

When deployed throughout a network, NetCache® appliances continually transmit valuable usage and performance data to ContentReporter. ContentReporter aggregates this information, providing reporting capability for the entire content distribution environment, while preserving each NetCache appliance's URL and domain information. ContentReporter parses the aggregated data to an ODBC-compliant database, allowing administrators to create a variety of reports.

In an enterprise deployment, ContentReporter provides features that help understand Internet usage patterns. For example, reports can be generated to show which employees attended a video based training session or watched the CEO's weekly presentation. Additionally with content filtering applications, ContentReporter can be used to observe whether internet access policies are being followed. Benefits include improved employee productivity by limiting access to non-work related Web sites. Legal liability is reduced with reports of corporate internet usage and potential policy violations.

CDNs can more quickly respond to regional events and deploy relevant content. For example, if a hurricane develops off the coast of Florida and usage reports indicate that local users begin requesting tracking and preparedness information, more content of that type can be deployed to NetCache appliances in the Southeastern United States in advance of peak local demand. Network administrators can proactively distribute content at off-peak hours, optimizing bandwidth use and ensuring that end users enjoy fast response times.

ISPs can offer additional feature-rich services and generate additional revenue by obtaining cache usage information for accurate billing and tracking. ContentReporter can provide billing reports specific to each domain involved in the services.

The Architecture

Network Appliance NetCache Content Reporter

ContentReporter aggregates log files from multiple NetCache appliances throughout a network, enabling overall analysis to be performed from anywhere on the network.

ContentReporter is highly scalable, processing large volumes of data in significantly less time than any other reporting tool available today. With this offering, Network Appliance provides the most comprehensive reporting solution available to keep content delivery infrastructures moving at top speed.

System Requirements ContentReporter server: