What Is an Origin Server? (The Server)| Definition

The purpose of the origin server is to process and respond to incoming internet requests from internet clients.

What Is an Origin Server? (The Server)| Definition what-is-the-server

Definition of a Server, How It Works, and How It Is Used

What Is an Origin Server?

The purpose of the origin server is to process and respond to incoming internet requests from internet clients. The concept of the origin server is typically used in conjunction with the concept of an edge server or cache server. At its core, an origin server is a computer running one or more programs designed to listen for and process incoming internet requests. An origin server can bear full responsibility for serving content for an internet property such as a website, provided traffic does not exceed what the server is capable of processing and response time is not a primary concern.

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The physical distance between the origin server and the requesting client adds latency to the connection, increasing the time it takes to load an internet resource such as a web page. Additionally, the extra round-trip time (RTT) between the client and the required origin server for a secure internet connection using SSL/TLS also adds further latency to the request, directly impacting the experience of the client requesting data from the origin. By using a Content Delivery Network (CDN), round-trip time can be reduced, and the number of requests to the origin server can also be reduced.

What Is the Difference Between an Origin Server and a CDN Edge Server?

Simply put, CDN servers are computers placed at key junctions between major internet service providers in locations around the world in order to deliver content as fast as possible. An edge server within a CDN lives at the "edge" of the network and is specifically designed to handle requests quickly. By strategically placing edge servers inside Internet Exchange Points (IxPs) located between networks, a CDN can reduce the amount of time it takes to reach a specific location on the internet.

What Is an Origin Server? (The Server)| Definition

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Edge servers cache content in order to offload one or more origin servers. By moving static assets such as images, HTML files, and JavaScript (and potentially other content) as close as possible to the requesting client device, an edge server cache can reduce the amount of time it takes to load a web resource. Origin servers still have an important role to play when a CDN is in use, as important server-side code such as a hashed client credential database used for authentication is typically kept within an origin server.

The following is a simple example of how an edge server and an origin server work together to serve a login page and allow a user to log in to a service. A very basic login page requires the following static assets to be downloaded in order for the web page to render correctly:

The HTML file for the web page
The CSS file for the web page design
Several image files
Multiple JavaScript libraries

All of these files are static files; they are not dynamically generated and are the same for all visitors to the site. As a result, these files can be cached and served to the client from the edge server. All of these files can be loaded close to the client device and without any bandwidth consumption by the origin.

When the user enters their login information and password and clicks "Sign In," the dynamic content request travels back to the edge server, which then proxies the request to the origin server. The origin then verifies the user's identity against the linked database table before sending back the specific account information.

This interaction between edge servers handling static content and origin servers serving dynamic content is a typical separation of concerns when using a CDN. The capabilities of some CDNs can also extend beyond this simplified model.

What Is an Origin Server? (The Server)| Definition

Can an Origin Server Still Be Attacked While Using a CDN?

The short answer is yes. A CDN does not make the origin server invulnerable, but when used properly it can make the origin server invisible, acting as a shield for incoming requests. Hiding the real IP address of the origin server is an important part of a CDN setup. As such, a CDN provider should recommend changing the IP address of the origin server when implementing a CDN strategy in order to prevent DDoS attacks from going around the shield and hitting the origin directly. CDN includes comprehensive DDoS protection.

Definition of a Server, How It Works, and How It Is Used

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What Is an Origin Server? Server Definition, How It Works, and Its Uses

What Is an Origin Server? (The Server)| Definition

Can an Origin Server Still Be Attacked While Using a CDN?

Definition of a Server, How It Works, and How It Is Used

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