As the sysadmin in our organization I've been asked to look into CDN solutions as we have plans to roll out a web platform that is targeted at developing countries. Here is my research so far on the subject.
CDN as a service:
With solutions from companies such as akamai (leader), limelight (good player), cloudfare (startup with a freemium model)
PROS:
-easy to get going (just pay, setup some DNS entries and you're good to go)
-controlled cost
CONS:
-have to rely on features/service provided by CDN which is unlikely to meet your special demands if your are a small organization like ours.
Cloud providers:
amazon and others which provide you with APIs and clouds in various locations which allow you to provide a CDN-like service.
PROS:
-more flexible than aforementioned CDNs
CONS:
-more work required to get going
Your own CDN:
With DNS and server load balancing products from companies such as F5 Networks, Juniper, Cisco hosted in datacenters.
PROS:
-you have full control over the infrastructure and can implement a solution that really fits your needs
CONS:
-requires massive investments
If you have knowledge about CDNs, can you share your experience with a PROS/CONS approach? Do you happen do know CDN solutions that perform well in developing countries?