Azure Content Delivery Network (Azure CDN) is a highly useful service provided by Azure for sending audio, video, and interactive live stream content to users using Microsoft’s network of edge servers. Azure CDN reduces load times, saves bandwidth, and enhances responsiveness. Azure CDN offers three core features such as caching, compression and connection optimization. In this post, we will focus on implementing Azure Content Delivery Network (Azure CDN) endpoints and profiles, which is a key aspect of exam AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure.
Creating a CDN Profile
A CDN profile is a collection of CDN endpoints and represents a specific set of CDN related features and configurations.
To create a CDN profile:
- From the Azure portal, go to “Create a resource” and choose “CDN”.
- Set the subscription and resource group. Choose a name for the CDN profile.
- Choose a Resource group where the CDN profile will be placed.
- Choose the pricing tier, Microsoft has four different pricing tiers – Standard Microsoft, Standard Akamai, Standard Verizon, and Premium Verizon.
- Lastly, click on “Create”.
After the CDN Profile is created, you’ll see it listed in the CDN page of the Azure portal.
Creating a CDN Endpoint
CDN Endpoints are the points of access for your cached content. They are attached to a CDN profile and inherit their properties from the profile.
To create a CDN endpoint:
- Navigate to the CDN profile in your Azure portal where you want to add an endpoint.
- Click on “Add endpoint.”
- Choose a name for your endpoint.
- Choose the origin type. This can be any publicly accessible web server, a Storage account, a Cloud Service, a Web App, or an Azure Media Services account.
- For the Origin hostname, provide the domain or IP address of the origin server.
- Set the Origin host header, Origin path, and the Protocol.
- After filling in all the fields, click “Add”.
You should now see your endpoint listed in your CDN profile.
Exploring CDN Endpoint Properties
Once a CDN endpoint is created, it can be managed by accessing its properties. Here you can purge the content, load the content, copy the endpoint hostname, etc.
To access endpoint properties, select the Endpoint in your Azure portal within your CDN profile. Here are some of the properties:
- “Origin type” shows the origin of your CDN.
- “Endpoint hostname” signifies the DNS name of your endpoint.
- “Origin hostname”, it’s the domain or IP address of your origin server.
- “Origin host header”, it’s the value that is used as a host header when making requests to the origin.
Conclusion
Setting up and configuring Azure CDN endpoints and profiles is crucial in optimizing your content delivery and improving user experience. For the AZ-204 Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure exam, understanding these concepts is key to managing data implementations. This post has walked you through creating and managing CDN profiles and endpoints, vital tasks for any Azure developer. Next, get hands-on experience by creating your own CDN profiles and endpoints in Azure and observing the effect it has on data delivery and load times.
Practice Test
True/False: Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a distributed network of servers that can provide web content to users in a scalable manner.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Azure CDN is indeed a distributed network of servers for delivering web content to users efficiently.
What is the purpose of creating an Azure CDN profile?
- A. To hold multiple CDN endpoints
- B. To enforce strict security policies
- C. To manage Azure subscriptions
- D. None of the above
Answer: A. To hold multiple CDN endpoints
Explanation: In Azure CDN, a profile consists of a collection of CDN endpoints.
True/False: Azure CDN does not support streaming.
- True
- False
Answer: False.
Explanation: Azure CDN supports streaming and can be used to deliver streaming services efficiently.
How many replicas of cached content are kept by Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN)?
- A. One
- B. At least two
- C. Three
- D. Six
Answer: B. At least two
Explanation: For reliability purposes, Azure CDN keeps at least two replicas of all cached content.
True/False: You can use Azure CDN to speed up your global web applications by caching their content at strategically placed locations.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Azure CDN caches the content at strategic points to bring it closer to the users, improving speed and efficiency.
Which of the following CDN profiles is NOT offered by Azure?
- A. Azure CDN Standard from Microsoft
- B. Azure CDN Premium from Akamai
- C. Azure CDN Basic from Verizon
- D. Azure CDN Standard from Cloudflare
Answer: D. Azure CDN Standard from Cloudflare
Explanation: Microsoft Azure provides CDN services through Microsoft, Akamai, and Verizon, not Cloudflare.
Azure CDN cannot be used with which of the following services?
- A. Media Services
- B. Web Apps
- C. Blob Storage
- D. None of the above
Answer: D. None of the above
Explanation: Azure CDN can be used with all the services listed – Media Services, Web Apps, and Blob Storage for better distribution of content.
True/False: Azure CDN endpoints and profiles are globally accessible and do not need regional configuration.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Azure CDN profiles and endpoints do not require regional configuration as they are designed to distribute content across the globe.
Which of the following does not influence Azure CDN’s caching behavior?
- A. HTTP headers
- B. Query strings
- C. Rules engine
- D. Blob type
Answer: D. Blob type
Explanation: Blob type does not influence caching behavior, but HTTP headers, query strings, and the rules engine can impact how Azure CDN caches content.
True/False: Each Azure CDN profile can include as many CDN endpoints as you wish.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: An Azure CDN profile is a container for your CDN endpoints and you can create as many endpoints as your project requires.
What does CDN in Azure CDN stand for?
- A. Circular Data Network
- B. Content Delivery Network
- C. Cloud Data Nodes
- D. Circular Delivery Network
Answer: B. Content Delivery Network
Explanation: CDN in Azure CDN stands for Content Delivery Network, which is designed to distribute web content in a highly efficient manner.
True/False: Azure provides a developer SDK for its CDN.
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Azure does provide a developer SDK for its CDN that enables developers to automate tasks and interactions with the CDN.
Which of the following is NOT a usage scenario for Azure CDN?
- A. Website performance improvement
- B. Audio and video streaming
- C. Storing credit card data
- D. Software delivery
Answer: C. Storing credit card data
Explanation: Azure CDN is not designed to store personal data such as credit card information. Its primary uses include improving website performance, audio and video streaming, and software delivery.
True/False: Azure CDN uses machine learning to predict content delivery paths.
- True
- False
Answer: False.
Explanation: Azure CDN does not use machine learning but rather strategically placed servers and networks to facilitate content delivery.
What type of sites or applications is Azure CDN best suited for?
- A. Local
- B. Regional
- C. Global
- D. National
Answer: C. Global
Explanation: Azure CDN is highly suitable for global sites or applications as it is designed to deliver content quickly to users around the world.
Interview Questions
What is Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN) used for?
Azure CDN is used for delivering high-bandwidth content by caching the content at physical nodes across the world.
How is Azure CDN integrated with other Azure services?
Azure CDN is integrated directly into Azure services like Web Apps, Media Services, and Storage.
How many types of Azure CDN products are available?
There are four types of Azure CDN products: Azure CDN Standard from Microsoft, Azure CDN Standard from Akamai, Azure CDN Standard from Verizon, and Azure CDN Premium from Verizon.
What do CDN endpoints do in the Azure CDN?
CDN endpoints are responsible for connecting Azure services with the CDN to cache content closer to users.
What is a CDN profile in Azure CDN?
A CDN profile is a container for CDN endpoints and specifies the content delivery network provider for those endpoints.
How can we create a CDN endpoint in Azure?
We can create a CDN endpoint using Azure portal, Azure PowerShell, Azure CLI, or using the Azure Management REST API.
What is the purge feature in Azure CDN?
The purge feature allows you to selectively purge cached content from all locations of a CDN endpoint.
Can we use HTTPS with Azure CDN?
Yes, Azure CDN supports the use of HTTPS for all CDN endpoints at no additional cost.
How does Azure CDN assist with Dynamic Site Acceleration (DSA)?
Azure CDN offers DSA, which optimises the delivery of dynamic, interactive content. DSA works by maintaining persistent connections from the client to the edge and by dynamically routing and optimising the network path between the edge and the origin.
Can we block users from specific countries in Azure CDN?
Yes, Azure CDN provides geo-filtering capabilities to block users from specific countries.
What is the use of CDN Edge nodes in Azure CDN?
CDN Edge nodes are responsible for delivering content to users. They serve the cached content to reduce load time and latency.
What cost is associated with HTTPS usage on CDN in Azure?
The use of HTTPS on Azure CDN endpoints does not add any additional costs.
What happens when the cached content at the CDN edge nodes expire?
When the cached content at the CDN edge nodes expire, the edge servers will fetch the content from the origin server again and update the cache.
Can we integrate Azure CDN with private networks like Azure Virtual Network and on-premises workloads?
No, Azure CDN cannot be used with Azure Virtual Network or on-premises workloads directly. Azure CDN only delivers publicly accessible content.
How can we manage an Azure CDN using Azure PowerShell?
We can manage an Azure CDN by using various Azure PowerShell cmdlets like New-AzCdnProfile, New-AzCdnEndpoint, Get-AzCdnProfile etc. These cmdlets allow creation, modification, listing, and removing resources from an Azure CDN.
extutorials.com