This shows you how to add Use Case-based Edge Mapping (UCEM) to optimize foreground delivery of content using a single edge hostname.

Create a new edge hostname

In this example, we're using Property Manager to create a new property configuration for Download Delivery to define a new property hostname to edge hostname association ("property hostname") to enable the appropriate use case.

Create a new secure property hostname. In this example, we're using "test-dd.com" as the hostname.
When you reach the Mapping Solution phase of the wizard, ensure Use Case is selected and set Download Mode to FOREGROUND.

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If you also have Edge IP Binding on your contract, it's revealed here, too. You can't use both UCEM and Edge IP Binding in the same property hostname.

Look at your new property hostname and verify the Use Case ("FOREGROUND") has been applied. If it has, the edge hostname that's used by this property hostname has been set to use an optimal edge map for foreground downloads.

Did you create your hostname using Edge Hostname Editor?

If you used the Edge Hostname Editor in Akamai Control Center, you also need to know the complete name of your edge hostname. Follow the same process discussed above, using the Use Case feature to select VOD. In the next window, click the pencil icon () and choose Select existing. You're shown a list of existing edge hostnames, filtered by the specified IP Version. Locate and select the edge hostname that has "VOD" set as its use case.

Download Mode use case vs. the Optimize for Foreground Download option

With this process, you set up a Use Case in a specific edge hostname to set the Download Mode to "FOREGROUND." However, there's also the Optimize for Foreground Download option in the Content Characteristics behavior Default Rule... what's the relationship?

The Download Mode edge hostname use case. This is specifically used to determine the optimized edge map to best deliver your media using the selected use case. This only applies to requests that are directed to the edge hostname applied in that specific property hostname. (For example, if you create another property hostname and don't apply the use case, requests to its edge hostname won't be optimized to a specific edge map.)
The Optimize for Foreground Download option. This is used to apply other delivery-related optimizations for use in foreground downloads. To properly support this use case, you need to set this option to "On " to match the UCEM setting. (This option's setting must match what you've set for the UCEM—"On" for "FOREGROUND," or "Off" for "BACKGROUND"—to avoid a mismatch condition.

What's next?

Requests to the new edge hostname will use the optimized edge map for foreground downloads, and deliver that content based on how you configure rules and behaviors. So, continue to create your property configuration to apply applicable behaviors in the Default Rule (and subsequent rules, if applicable).

Once you've completed and saved the property, you need to:

Activate it on the Staging network and (optionally) test it.
Activate it on the Production network and go live . At this phase, you update your DNS record to CNAME your vanity hostname to the edge hostname you created, so that requests to it are resolved to the edge hostname.