Media storage

What is media storage

Media storage is ApsaraVideo VOD's cloud storage feature. It supports various media file types, such as audio, video, images, and materials for short videos.

Media storage offers two storage solutions:

• VOD system bucket: A one-stop, managed storage solution provided by ApsaraVideo VOD. It is ready to use out-of-the-box and tightly integrated with ApsaraVideo VOD features. This solution is suitable for scenarios that require an all-in-one audio and video solution.

• Your own OSS bucket: This solution lets you grant ApsaraVideo VOD access to your OSS buckets. It is ideal for users who already have large amounts of data in OSS or have specific storage management requirements.

Choose a solution

Both ApsaraVideo VOD storage solutions are built on Alibaba Cloud Object Storage Service (OSS) but suit different use cases. You can use a VOD system bucket, your own OSS bucket, or a combination of both. The following table compares the two solutions.

Scenario 1: No historical data and cost priority

If your project has no historical data and you want to maximize cost savings, we recommend using a VOD system bucket.

• Reason: This solution has an optimal cost structure because it waives CDN origin fetch traffic fees and storage API request fees.

Scenario 2: Existing data in OSS

If you have many media files stored in your own OSS bucket and data migration is costly, we recommend using your own OSS bucket.

• Reason: This solution lets you use your existing OSS media assets directly. It avoids the time, cost, and risks of data migration. You only need to add your bucket to the ApsaraVideo VOD service.

VOD system bucket

A VOD system bucket is a bucket created and managed by ApsaraVideo VOD. It offers a simple configuration and a straightforward cost structure. This makes it ideal for projects that require a quick launch and simplified O&M.

Enable a bucket

Manage a bucket

After you enable a bucket, you can manage its permissions and associated domain names.

1. Log on to the Storage Management page in the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

2. In the Actions column for the target storage address, click Manage to go to the management page.

   The management page displays basic information about the storage bucket, including Region, Type, and Storage Address. In the domain name management area, you can set the origin domain name as the Default.

3. In the Basics section, you can view basic information about the storage address, such as its region and type.

4. In the Permissions section, click Modify to change the bucket's read and write permissions.

   1. private (Default): High security. All access must be authenticated by the ApsaraVideo VOD service. The generated playback URL is valid for 3,600 seconds by default. You can call the GetPlayInfo API to adjust the validity period.

   2. public-read: High risk. The storage address is permanently valid. This poses risks of hotlinking and unauthorized downloads, which can lead to high traffic fees. Configure this setting with caution.

5. In the Domains That Use This Storage Address as the Origin section, you can set the default origin domain name.

   For more information about how to configure domain names that use a storage address as the origin, see Domain Name Management.

Set the default storage address

When you use a VOD system bucket and your own OSS bucket together, you can set one as the default address. Media assets uploaded to that region are then automatically stored there.

• Log on to the Storage Management page in the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

• In the Actions column for the target storage address, click Set as Default.

Convert the storage redundancy type

You can upgrade the storage type of a VOD system bucket from locally redundant storage to zone-redundant storage. Zone-redundant storage improves data reliability by storing data across multiple zones in the same region, but at a higher storage cost.

Applicability

• Storage redundancy type conversion is supported in the following regions: China (Shanghai), China (Beijing), China (Shenzhen), Hong Kong (China), Japan (Tokyo), Singapore, Indonesia (Jakarta), and Germany (Frankfurt).

Procedure

• Log on to the Storage Management page in the ApsaraVideo VOD console and in the Actions column for the target storage address, click Manage to go to the management page.

• In the Basics section, to the right of Storage Redundancy Type, click Convert to Zone-redundant Storage.

Release a system bucket

If you no longer need the ApsaraVideo VOD service and its media assets in a specific region, you can request to release the VOD system bucket. To ensure the security of your media assets, you must submit a request for approval before releasing it. To back up your media assets, see Migrate ApsaraVideo VOD resources.

1. Request release permission

   Request release permission

   1. Log on to Quota Center and choose Product List > Equity Quotas.

   2. On the Equity Quota Product List page, select Video and CDN from the Product Category drop-down list. Click ApsaraVideo VOD to go to the quota request page.

   3. In the row for Use the feature to release VOD system storage, click Apply.

   4. Enter the request information.

      Parameter	Description	Example
      Quota application value	After the quota request is approved, the Release/View System Storage button appears or disappears in the ApsaraVideo VOD console. The button appears when the quota is effective and disappears when it expires.	Effective
      Time	If you set the Quota Application Value to Effective, you must set an effective time and an expiration time. The expiration time must be later than the effective time. Effective Time: If not specified, it defaults to the time the request is submitted. Expiration Time: If not specified, it defaults to 99 years from the effective time.	Effective Time: 10:01:01, August 29, 2023 Expiration Time: -
      Reason for request	Provide a detailed and reasonable justification for your request.	The XXX service no longer uses ApsaraVideo VOD. I need to request to release all resources at once.
      Notify of result	Yes (Default): The result is sent by text message and email. No: No notification is sent. You can view the status of your quota request by clicking Application History on the Equity Quotas page in the Quota Center console.	Yes

   5. Click Confirm Adjustment. Wait until the status of the quota request in Application History changes to Approved.

2. Release the bucket

   1. Log on to the Storage Management page in the ApsaraVideo VOD console, and in the Actions column for the target storage address, click Manage.

   2. In the row for the VOD system bucket that you want to release, click , and then click Release/View System Storage.

Your own OSS bucket

If your media assets are already stored in an OSS bucket or if you want to use advanced OSS features, you can add your own OSS bucket to ApsaraVideo VOD.

Add a bucket

This operation adds an existing OSS bucket to ApsaraVideo VOD. It does not move or modify existing files in the bucket.

Manage existing media assets

For media assets that exist in the bucket before you add it, you must call the RegisterMedia API to register their information with ApsaraVideo VOD. After the media assets are registered, you can perform operations such as transcoding, taking a snapshot, and retrieving a playback URL.

Manage a bucket

After you add a bucket, you can manage its permissions and associated domain names.

Limitations

• Adding your own OSS bucket

  • Your own OSS bucket must be in the same region as the ApsaraVideo VOD service. You can add only OSS buckets of the Standard storage class.

  • If your OSS bucket is already attached to the ApsaraVideo Media Processing (MPS) service, you cannot add it to ApsaraVideo VOD. You must detach the bucket from MPS first. For more information, see Detach a bucket.

  • To prevent playback or processing failures that are caused by data inconsistencies between ApsaraVideo VOD and OSS, we recommend performing all media file operations, such as adding, deleting, or modifying, through ApsaraVideo VOD.

• Converting the storage redundancy type of a VOD system bucket

  • The storage redundancy type can be converted only in the following regions: China (Shanghai), China (Beijing), China (Shenzhen), Hong Kong (China), Japan (Tokyo), Singapore, Indonesia (Jakarta), or Germany (Frankfurt).

  • You can only convert from locally redundant storage to zone-redundant storage. The reverse conversion is not supported.

Billing

• VOD system bucket: The fees are included in your ApsaraVideo VOD bill. No CDN origin fetch traffic fees or storage API request fees are incurred.

• Your own OSS bucket: Fees are charged separately by OSS and ApsaraVideo VOD. You must pay OSS for storage, outbound traffic over the internet, and API requests. If you use ApsaraVideo VOD features such as transcoding and snapshots, the processing fees are charged by ApsaraVideo VOD.

• Combined use: Storage fees for your own OSS bucket are billed by OSS. All other fees are charged by ApsaraVideo VOD. For more information, see Basic service billing.

FAQ

Using existing files in your OSS bucket

No. For files that already exist in the bucket, you must call the RegisterMedia API to register them with ApsaraVideo VOD. After that, you can perform operations such as transcoding, taking a snapshot, and retrieving a playback URL. This step is not required for new files uploaded using the ApsaraVideo VOD API after the bucket is added.

Viewing storage usage

VOD system bucket

1. Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Data Center > Usage.Usage 

3. On the Usage page, click the Storage tab.

4. Select the storage region that you want to view.

Your own OSS bucket

1. Log on to the OSS console.

2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Buckets, and then click the name of the target bucket.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Usage to go to the Usage page.