Origin Setup for On-Demand Streaming

On-demand content (i.e., H.264 media files) may be streamed from either a customer origin server or CDN storage. Additionally, content may be streamed over HTTPS for either origin type.

CDN Storage

Streaming on-demand content from CDN storage involves the following steps:

  1. Upload the desired H.264 media files to CDN storage via SFTP, rsync, or FTP.
  2. Optional. Set up an edge CNAME whose Origin Directory option is set to:

    Learn more about setting up an edge CNAME.

    Edge CNAME setup varies according to whether it will serve HTTP or HTTPS traffic.
    Learn more about setting up HTTPS streaming.

  3. Leverage a CDN or edge CNAME URL to point a media player to the desired H.264 media file.

Customer Origin

Streaming on-demand content from a customer origin involves the following steps:

  1. Create a customer origin configuration that points to the desired web servers.

    Learn more (Customer Origin Group / Legacy).

  2. Upload the desired H.264 media files to the web servers referenced by the above customer origin configuration.
  3. Optional. Set up an edge CNAME whose Origin Directory option is set to:

    Learn more about setting up an edge CNAME.

    Edge CNAME setup varies according to whether it will serve HTTP or HTTPS traffic.
    Learn more about setting up HTTPS streaming.

  4. Leverage a CDN or edge CNAME URL to point a media player to the desired H.264 media file.

HTTPS Streaming

On-demand content may be streamed over HTTPS. The two main benefits of streaming content over HTTPS are:

  1. It allows end-to-end encryption of on-demand content. This ensures secure communication between the viewer and the origin server.
  2. It improves the user experience by eliminating the web browser-generated security warning that pops up when a HTTPS web page contains content delivered over HTTP (e.g., audio/video).

An important caveat to HTTPS streaming is that only certain media players (e.g., iOS devices and QuickTime) support this capability. Refer to the media player's documentation to find out whether it supports streaming over HTTPS.

Use encrypted HLS to apply additional security to your on-demand streams.
Learn more.

Setup

Setting up HTTPS streaming involves the following steps:

  1. Perform the above steps to set up CDN storage or a customer origin.
  2. Perform one of the following steps:

    • Certificate Provisioning System

      Create a TLS certificate for the HTTP Large platform.

      Learn more.

    • Legacy HTTPS

      Contact your CDN account manager to request a TLS certificate for the HTTP Large platform.

      Learn more.

  3. Once the TLS certificate has been installed on our network, create or update an edge CNAME for the HTTP Large platform.

    Learn more.

    This edge CNAME must be configured as indicated below.

  4. From your DNS service provider, update a CNAME record to point the edge CNAME to the hostname provided by your CDN account manager.

    Learn more.

  5. Point the desired media player to a player URL that leverages the above edge CNAME.

    Player URL syntax for HLS:

    Player URL syntax for MPEG-DASH:

More Information