Cloud-based Content Distribution on a BudgetI

To leverage the elastic nature of cloud computing, a solution provider must be able to accurately gauge demand for its offering. In this paper, we propose a general framework and present a prototype implementation of peer-assisted content delivery application. Our system – called Cyclops – dynamically adjusts the off-cloud bandwidth consumed by content servers (which represents the bulk of the provider’s cost) to feed a set of swarming clients, based on a feedback signal that gauges the real-time health of the swarm. Our extensive evaluation of Cyclops in a variety of settings – including controlled PlanetLab and live Internet experiments involving thousands of users – show significant reduction in content distribution costs (by as much as two orders of magnitude) when compared to non-feedback-based swarming solutions, with minor impact on content delivery times.