Optimized Content Distribution Based on Metrics Derived from the End User

摘要

Some embodiments provide systems and methods for determining a server of a distributed hosting system to optimally distribute content to an end user. The method includes identifying an IP address of the end user. Based on the IP address, a set of servers send packets to the end user to derive performance metrics. The performance metrics are used to determine a server from the set of servers that optimally distributes content to the end user. The method modifies a configuration for resolving end user requests such that the optimal server is identified to the end user when the end user requests content from the hosting system. Some embodiments determine the optimal server by providing downloadable content that is embedded with a monitoring tool. The monitoring tool causes the end user to derive performance metrics for the hosting system when downloading a particular object from a set of servers.

主权项

1. A method for identifying a server from a plurality of distributed servers of a hosting system for optimally responding to a user request, the method comprising:
with at least one particular server of the hosting system having a processor and memory storing a program that configures the processor in:
receiving a DNS request that is modified to carry a particular Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a user originating said DNS request, wherein the particular IP address is not an IP address of any DNS server that is used in resolving the user's DNS request;compiling performance metrics measuring content delivery performance for sending at least one packet from each of the plurality of distributed servers to the particular IP address; andmodifying a configuration of the hosting system that is used for resolving the DNS request, wherein modifying the configuration comprises configuring an optimal server from the plurality of distributed servers with the best performance metric to the particular IP address.