Understanding the Edge Data Center
Audience Manager uses distributed, edge-computing topologies to meet the demands placed on our systems by external sources.
Edge Data Center Basics
Edge computing provides improved performance in response to diffuse, Internet-wide demand because the “edge” itself is a global boundary. This means Audience Manager dynamically places processing closest to the sources of demand and returns data by the shortest possible path. Edge computing helps maintain site performance, which, in turn, preserves the user experience on your website. The edge data center is a key gateway for moving data in and out of Audience Manager.
The Audience Manager edge data center includes:
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Core Servers: These are the main Audience Manager systems. They update and provide data to the edge servers.
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Edge Servers: Typically, these are application and/or web servers. They sit at the boundary between Audience Manager and the Internet. Edge servers, such as the DCS or Akamai systems, typically handle data and requests flowing into and out of Audience Manager.
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Load Balancers: Manage uneven computing/processing demands inherent in Internet applications. These balancers prevent clusters of servers from being overloaded while others remain idle.
The following diagram illustrates the Audience Manager edge data center environment.
Geographic Distribution and Load Balancing
See the DCS section in Data Collection Components.