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Dynamic Content Delivery Network:What is EdgeRoutine?

Last Updated:Mar 05, 2024

EdgeRoutine is a serverless runtime environment that allows you to write JavaScript code and deploy and execute it on Alibaba Cloud points of presence (POPs) worldwide. EdgeRoutine supports ES6 syntax and standard Web Service Worker APIs. With EdgeRoutine, user requests can be responded and processed by the POP that is closest to users. This significantly reduces latency, accelerates response, and enhances user experience.

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Instructions for activation

EdgeRoutine is in beta release and available only to selected users. If the daily peak bandwidth of your DCDN service exceeds 500 Mbit/s, you can submit a ticket to enable EdgeRoutine. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. For more information about public previews, visit the official website.

Benefits

  • Global deployment, near-site scheduling, and ultra-low latency: Compared with common cloud computing services, such as Function Compute and Elastic Compute Service (ECS), EdgeRoutine does not need to be deployed in a specific region. EdgeRoutine runs on POPs around the world. Client requests are automatically scheduled to the nearest POPs, which immediately run your code and process client requests. EdgeRoutine can significantly reduce the server response time, which helps you deliver low-latency services to your users.

  • Automatic scale-out and pay-as-you-go billing: Alibaba Cloud has constructed an edge network that consists of more than 3,200 POPs around the world. These POPs provide unparalleled scalability. If the number of client requests in a region surges, these requests are automatically scheduled to the nearest POPs that have sufficient computing resources. You are charged for EdgeRoutine based on the number of calls that are made to the service.

  • Easy-to-use serverless environment: EdgeRoutine allows you to focus on your business logic without having to manage underlying resources, such as the CPU, memory, network, and operating system. You can upload your code by using the console or API to deploy applications. Serverless development can effectively cut your development and O&M costs.

How it works

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  • Scenarios in which EdgeRoutine is not used: 1. Clients initiate requests to the gateways of the POPs. → 2. The POPs search for the requested content in the cache. If a request is a cache hit, the requested content is returned to the client. → 3. If a request is a cache miss, the request is redirected to the origin server.

  • Scenarios in which EdgeRoutine is used: 1. Clients initiate requests to the gateways of the POPs. → 4. The requests are managed by EdgeRoutine, and the relevant JavaScript code is triggered. → Fetch requests are sent to the cache and origin server (No. 5 or No. 3), or to other publicly-accessible services (No. 6).

    Note

    In the preceding figure, EdgeRoutine is executed behind the gateway. In this case, the configurations of DCDN-accelerated domain names that are configured in the console, such as HTTPS configurations, access control, performance optimization, and cache settings, will continue to take effect.

Terms

  • Routine: EdgeRoutine is a JavaScript code runtime environment that runs on Alibaba Cloud POPs. You can upload and run JavaScript code in EdgeRoutine. You need to create a routine before you can use EdgeRoutine. A routine consists of configurations and the JavaScript code script that you upload. The configurations specify information about the routine, such as the name, description, CPU and memory caps, and domain name whitelist.

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  • Version: Routines support version management. During the development of a routine, JavaScript code is constantly modified and updated. After you complete testing for a stage, you can create a code version by taking a snapshot of the current state of the code. When you publish a routine, you need to select a code version. The system allows you to select earlier versions and manage historical code. Each version has a version number, which is automatically generated by the system.

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  • Environment: EdgeRoutine provides the testing environment, production environment, and canary release environment.

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    • Testing environment: A testing environment is an independent POP that is used to test code. The testing environment simulates the production environment but is isolated from the production environment. You can modify the routine configuration or code in the testing environment. This does not affect the production environment. You can access the testing environment only after you add the IP address that is provided on the page to your hosts file.

    • Production environment: The production environment, also known as the deployment environment, consists of a large number of POPs that are distributed around the world. After you test your code in the testing environment, you can deploy the code to the production environment. The preceding figure is provided for reference only. EdgeRoutine automatically adds or removes POPs based on your request volume. The POP distribution may vary according to actual scenarios.

    • Canary release environment: This environment allows you to gradually expand the scope of your deployment. It is risky to deploy code or configuration changes directly to the production environment. If errors exist in your code or configurations, your users may be affected. If your business is large-scale or you want to control risks when you make code or configuration changes, we recommend that you use the canary release environment to manage the deployment scope. The canary release environment is complex. We recommend that you understand the basics of the environment before you use the canary release environment. For more information, see Canary release environment (optional).

  • Domain name: After you create a routine and deploy code, you need to use a domain name as the portal of the routine that clients can access. EdgeRoutine supports only DCDN-accelerated domain names as portals. You can associate EdgeRoutine with domain names in the DCDN console.

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  • POP: POPs are used by DCDN for content delivery. Client requests are scheduled to the nearest POPs.

Limits

Item

Limit

Description

CPU time

5 ms, 50 ms, and 100 ms

The CPU time slice that is allocated by EdgeRoutine for an execution. I/O wait is not included in the calculated CPU time. You can select one of the three options: 5 ms, 50 ms, and 100 ms. For more information, see Billing rules.

Memory size

128 MB

The memory size of a domain name on a physical machine. All requests for the domain name share the memory. For example, the maximum JavaScript sandbox memory size on a physical machine is 128 MB.

Real time

120s

The response time of an execution for EdgeRoutine cannot exceed 120s. I/O wait is included in the calculated real time.

Waiting time

10s

The time during which the gateway waits for EdgeRoutine. If EdgeRoutine does not return data within 10s, the gateway disconnects from the server and returns HTTP status code 504 to the client.

Code package size

4 MB

The maximum size of the JavaScript code file for each routine.

Number of fetch subrequests

4

The number of fetch requests that is allowed by EdgeRoutine in an execution.

Programming language

JavaScript (ES6 syntax)

Only JavaScript is supported. You need to know how to use JavaScript.

Number of routines

50

You can create up to 50 routines for each Alibaba Cloud account.

Number of versions

10

You can save up to 10 versions for each routine.

Supported protocol

HTTPS only

WebSocket, TCP, and UDP are not supported.

Fetch requests

None

You cannot initiate a fetch request in a routine to a domain name of another routine.