An end user's media player understands playback behavior better than a content delivery network (CDN) can from its limited server-side data. So, we offer support for Common Media Client Data (CMCD). This is an open specification created by the Consumer Technology Association. A media player can use it to send its expanded playback information to Akamai (and other CDNs). You can use it for multiple purposes:

Data can be used for segment prefetching. Your media player can include prefetching "hints" in CMCD metadata. This is supported for content that's segmented into individual objects, as well as byte ranges for prefetching parts of much larger media objects.
Data is stored in logs for troubleshooting. More data = more help fixing problems Akamai customer support can quickly access this log data to help reduce troubleshooting time.

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Segment prefetching via CMCD is Beta
This feature is only available to customers participating in its beta program. Talk to your Akamai account team to see if you're eligible.

There are a few things you need to do to enable support for CMCD.

1. Send CMCD data from the client

You'll want to set up your media player to send CMCD data from a requesting client. Data can be sent to Akamai using either of these methods:

As a custom HTTP request header.
As an HTTP query argument.

Guidelines are laid out in the CMCD specification. Look to it for the latest recommendations on transmitting information in your requests.

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A single request shouldn't include both CMCD headers and query arguments. If one does, Akamai ignores the query argument.

Prefetching requirements

If you'd like to support segment prefetching, the CMCD data sent by your player needs to include at least these keys:

Key Description

Key	Description
Buffer length (`bl`)	This is the buffer length for your player. AMD uses `bl` parameter feedback to ensure effective prefetching based on the momentary buffer fill grade. If the `bl` is exceeded, CMCD prefetching is disabled for client players, leaving them with a comfortable amount of buffered content.
Next object request (`nor`), or Next range request (`nrr`)	One of these keys needs to be included, based on how your player is requesting your segmented content: `nor`. This is the relative path to the next object. Include this if you store your media segments as individual objects. AMD constructs the prefetch URL for a segment that's relative to the requested segment. `nrr`. This applies if the next request will be a partial object request. Its string designates the byte range to be requested. You'd include this if the target media is stored in one large contiguous object and byte-range requests are used to get individual segments. Enable this if your content is already Brotli-compressed on your origin server. Akamai serves it from your origin and caches it on edge servers to make it more accessible. If a requesting client doesn't support Brotli, edge servers respond with non-Brotli resources, instead. 📘 These points apply to the use of partial object caching and prefetching: The minimum object size for partial object caching is 10 MB. Anything smaller and the entire object will be prefetched, which defeats the purpose of prefetching. There is a 10-fragment limit for prefetching. If the byte range in your request exceeds this, prefetching won't be applied.

Buffer length (bl)

This is the buffer length for your player. AMD uses bl parameter feedback to ensure effective prefetching based on the momentary buffer fill grade. If the bl is exceeded, CMCD prefetching is disabled for client players, leaving them with a comfortable amount of buffered content.

Next object request (nor), or
Next range request (nrr)

One of these keys needs to be included, based on how your player is requesting your segmented content:

nor. This is the relative path to the next object. Include this if you store your media segments as individual objects. AMD constructs the prefetch URL for a segment that's relative to the requested segment.
nrr. This applies if the next request will be a partial object request. Its string designates the byte range to be requested. You'd include this if the target media is stored in one large contiguous object and byte-range requests are used to get individual segments.

Enable this if your content is already Brotli-compressed on your origin server. Akamai serves it from your origin and caches it on edge servers to make it more accessible. If a requesting client doesn't support Brotli, edge servers respond with non-Brotli resources, instead.

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These points apply to the use of partial object caching and prefetching:

The minimum object size for partial object caching is 10 MB. Anything smaller and the entire object will be prefetched, which defeats the purpose of prefetching.

There is a 10-fragment limit for prefetching. If the byte range in your request exceeds this, prefetching won't be applied.

See the CMCD specification for proper instructions on including these values in a request from your player.

CORS-restricted clients and CMCD data

A CORS-restricted client (such as a web application running inside a browser) has to make a preflight OPTIONS request against a CDN before it can request an object that includes custom CMCD headers. So, the HTTP query argument method is recommended for browser clients, while the custom HTTP request header method is recommended for all other clients.

2. Set up your AMD property

Make sure your property is set up to receive CMCD data, based on how the client is sending it.

Use custom HTTP request headers

You can incorporate support for CMCD headers in multiple ways.

Method Description

Method	Description
Create a new Akamai property	If this is a new property, support for CMCD is automatically added to the Default CORS Policy Rule. The `CMCD-Request`, `CMCD-Object`, `CMCD-Status`, and `CMCD-Session` request headers are included in the Select Header Name field for the Modify Outgoing Response behavior, that's set up for Access-Control-Allow-Headers.
Create a new version of an existing Akamai property	If the property contains the Modify Outgoing Response Header behavior, either standalone or as part of the Default CORS Policy Rule, Akamai will automatically add the `CMCD-Request`, `CMCD-Object`, `CMCD-Status`, and `CMCD-Session` request headers if the following apply: Action is set to Modify or Add. Select Header Name is set to Access-Control-Allow-Headers. New Header Value is not set to `*`. This is a wildcard indicating all headers.
Add a separate instance of the Modify Outgoing Response Header behavior	If you're not employing the Default CORS Policy rule, you can include the Modify Outgoing Response Header behavior in another rule. If this is the case, this behavior's settings need to be set as follows: Action. Set this to Modify or Add. The former will replace any Access-Control-Allow-Headers in a request with what's set in New Header Value. The former will add what's set there to any Access-Control-Allow-Headers received in a request. Select Header Name. Set this to Access-Control-Allow-Headers. New Header Value. Enter the CMCD headers: `CMCD-Request`, `CMCD-Object`, `CMCD-Status`, and `CMCD-Session`.

Create a new Akamai property

If this is a new property, support for CMCD is automatically added to the Default CORS Policy Rule. The CMCD-Request, CMCD-Object, CMCD-Status, and CMCD-Session request headers are included in the Select Header Name field for the Modify Outgoing Response behavior, that's set up for Access-Control-Allow-Headers.

Create a new version of an existing Akamai property

If the property contains the Modify Outgoing Response Header behavior, either standalone or as part of the Default CORS Policy Rule, Akamai will automatically add the CMCD-Request, CMCD-Object, CMCD-Status, and CMCD-Session request headers if the following apply:

Action is set to Modify or Add.
Select Header Name is set to Access-Control-Allow-Headers.
New Header Value is not set to *. This is a wildcard indicating all headers.

Add a separate instance of the Modify Outgoing Response Header behavior

If you're not employing the Default CORS Policy rule, you can include the Modify Outgoing Response Header behavior in another rule. If this is the case, this behavior's settings need to be set as follows:

Action. Set this to Modify or Add. The former will replace any Access-Control-Allow-Headers in a request with what's set in New Header Value. The former will add what's set there to any Access-Control-Allow-Headers received in a request.
Select Header Name. Set this to Access-Control-Allow-Headers.
New Header Value. Enter the CMCD headers: CMCD-Request, CMCD-Object, CMCD-Status, and CMCD-Session.

Use query arguments

If you’d prefer to use query arguments, you need to do a couple of things.

Task	Description
Set the Cache Key Query Parameters behavior	You need to be sure that CMCD query arguments are not cached. CMCD data changes with each request. Caching these arguments will increase the load on your origin server and affect performance. Make sure that the Cache Key Query Parameters behavior in your delivery property is set up using either of these methods: Exclude all parameters (Recommended). This is the default setting for this behavior in a new Control Center property. Include only specified parameters. If you need to cache some of your query arguments, set Behavior to this setting and set Parameters to only the query arguments you need cached. Ensure that all CMCD-related query arguments are left out.
Avoid CMCD headers	Ensure that requests from the player don't include CMCD headers, because they'll take precedence.

Task

Description

Set the Cache Key Query Parameters behavior

You need to be sure that CMCD query arguments are not cached. CMCD data changes with each request. Caching these arguments will increase the load on your origin server and affect performance. Make sure that the Cache Key Query Parameters behavior in your delivery property is set up using either of these methods:

Exclude all parameters (Recommended). This is the default setting for this behavior in a new Control Center property.

Include only specified parameters. If you need to cache some of your query arguments, set Behavior to this setting and set Parameters to only the query arguments you need cached. Ensure that all CMCD-related query arguments are left out.

Avoid CMCD headers

Ensure that requests from the player don't include CMCD headers, because they'll take precedence.

Add CMCD segment prefetch support

If you want to include this support, add the Common Media Client Data support behavior to your AMD property and set it to "On."

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You need to add the behavior to the same rule tree where you configured other settings for CMCD support:

The same rule. Its match criterium needs to be met in a request to apply all of the CMCD-specific settings you defined.

A child rule. The parent-level rule contains settings to apply CMCD support via headers or query strings. The child rule can be set to have its own unique match criterium so that only those requests apply segment prefetching.

Add CMCD log data support

There's nothing more you need to do to support CMCD data gathering in logs for troubleshooting. Once you've configured your player and your AMD property, the data is gathered automatically.

3. Test your setup

Ensure your player supports CMCD and thoroughly test your configuration on the staging network. Verify interactions between your player and origin server before fully enabling your property on the production network.

Caveats and known issues

Review these points before adding CMCD to your property:

CMCD prefetching takes precedence. If you've set up Origin-assist prefetch, CMCD prefetching will override it.
CMCD prefetching may significantly increase log sizes. Log entries can increase from 300 bytes in size, up to 512. Take this into consideration when gathering and storing log data. For example, if you're using Akamai's Log Delivery Service and externally storing logs.
Custom prefetch solutions may create issues. If you have a custom solution in place, for example, through advanced metadata, and you apply CMCD prefetching, this can lead to duplicate prefetch requests. This can create a higher load on your origin and slow delivery. Talk to your Akamai account team if you have a custom configuration.
CMCD prefetches can amplify a DOS attack. This can happen if prefetching inadvertently triggers a prefetch of a much larger object. For example, if a proper range isn't specified, a byte range request could request a full VOD asset that's supposed to be segmented. Make sure your player is properly requesting byte ranges to avoid this.
CMCD prefetching isn't supported with Media Encryption for DASH.
Akamai only supports a subset of CMCD keys. These keys can be included in a request, but they will be ignored:
- sid (session identifier)
- cid (content identifier)
- d (duration)
- pr (playback rate)
- sf (stream format)
- st (stream type)
- dl (deadline)
- custom (custom variables)