ApsaraVideo VOD:Media storage

What is media storage

Media storage is the cloud storage feature provided by ApsaraVideo VOD. 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 is deeply 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.

Choosing a solution

Both ApsaraVideo VOD storage solutions are built on Alibaba Cloud Object Storage Service (OSS) but are suited for different scenarios. 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 existing data and want to optimize costs

If your project has no existing data and you want to optimize costs, we recommend that you use a VOD system bucket.

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

Scenario 2: Large amount of existing data in OSS that is difficult to migrate

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

• This solution lets you use your existing OSS media assets directly. It helps you avoid the time, cost, and potential risks associated with data migration. You only need to add your bucket to the ApsaraVideo VOD service.

ApsaraVideo VOD system bucket

A VOD system bucket is a bucket that is created and managed by the ApsaraVideo VOD service. It offers a simple configuration and a straightforward cost structure. This makes it ideal for projects that need to be launched quickly and require simplified O&M.

Enable a bucket

Manage the bucket

After a bucket is enabled, 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 of the target storage address, click Manage to open the management page.

   

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

4. In the Permissions section, click Modify Configuration to change the bucket's access control list (ACL).

   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 adjust the validity period by calling the GetPlayInfo operation.

   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 Domain names that use this storage address for origin fetch section, you can set the domain name for the default origin fetch storage address.

   For more information about how to configure a domain name for an origin fetch storage address, see Domain name management.

Set the default storage address

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

• Log on to the Storage Management page of 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 offers improved data reliability by storing data across multiple zones in the same region, but at a higher storage cost.

Scope

• 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. In the Actions column for the target storage address, click Manage to open the management page.

• In the Basic Information section, to the right of Storage Redundancy Type, click Convert To Zone-Redundant Storage.

  

Release system storage

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

1. Requesting release permission

   Request permission to release the bucket

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

      

   2. On the Privilege Quotas 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 Of Releasing VOD System Storage, click Request.

   4. Enter the request information.

      Parameter	Description	Example
      Quota Value	After the quota request is approved, the Release/View System Storage button is displayed or hidden in the ApsaraVideo VOD console. The button is displayed when the quota is effective and hidden when it expires.	Effective
      Time	If you set Quota 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 Request History in the Privilege Quotas list in the Quota Center console.	Yes

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

2. Perform the release operation

   1. Log on to the Storage Management page in the ApsaraVideo VOD console. 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 the files that already exist in the bucket.

Manage existing media assets

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

Manage the bucket

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

Limits

• 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 that you perform all operations to add, delete, or modify media assets using the ApsaraVideo VOD service.

• 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 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 snapshotting, 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 Billing of basic services.

FAQ

After I add my own OSS bucket to ApsaraVideo VOD, can I use the existing files directly?

No, you cannot. For files that exist in the bucket before you add it, you must call the RegisterMedia operation to register their information with ApsaraVideo VOD. After the files are registered, you can perform operations such as transcoding, taking snapshots, and retrieving playback URLs. This step is not required for new files that are uploaded using the ApsaraVideo VOD upload API after the bucket is added.

How do I view my current storage usage?

VOD system bucket

1. Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

2. In the navigation pane on the left of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, choose Data Center > Usage to go to the Usage page.

3. On the Usage page, select Storage.

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 navigation pane, click Buckets and then click the name of the target bucket.

3. In the navigation pane on the left, choose Usage.