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AWS Cloud Digital Interface (CDI) is a software development kit and transport technology that lets compatible applications exchange live, uncompressed video inside AWS. It is designed for cloud production workflows—not as a codec, consumer video format, or general-purpose internet streaming protocol. AWS says its SDK uses Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) and Scalable Reliable Datagram (SRD) to deliver video between EC2 instances with latency as low as one frame, subject to deployment and buffering constraints.
What AWS CDI is—and what it is not
The AWS CDI SDK provides a way for video applications running in AWS to send and receive live media. Its intended use is low-latency, high-quality exchange between software endpoints in cloud production systems. AWS describes support for uncompressed UHD data rates up to 4K at 60 frames per second between EC2 instances in the same Availability Zone, when the required infrastructure is in place. AWS CDI SDK User Guide
CDI is not a video codec: it does not define how footage is compressed. Nor is it a general-purpose protocol for sending a stream across the public internet to viewers. Its performance depends on AWS networking, suitable EC2 instance types, and how the instances are placed.
How the CDI SDK moves video
AWS says the SDK uses Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) and Scalable Reliable Datagram (SRD) to transport video between EC2 instances. EFA is available on a limited set of Nitro-based EC2 instance types. AWS recommends clustered placement groups for optimal performance, although it notes that clustered placement is not suitable or possible in every interoperability scenario.
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AWS describes latency as low as a single frame. The SDK guide also states a performance goal of no more than one dropped frame in a 24-hour period; that is a product goal, not a guarantee for every deployment. Network layout and node proximity can affect buffering needs, so the one-frame latency description should not be treated as a promise that every workflow will run with exactly one frame of delay.
CDI SDK versus a MediaConnect CDI flow
“AWS CDI” can refer to the SDK used by applications, while an AWS Elemental MediaConnect CDI flow is a managed service configuration for transporting media. They are related, but not interchangeable terms. The SDK is an application-to-application transport approach; MediaConnect flows can bridge a VPC and external broadcast infrastructure.
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| Option | What it does | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| CDI SDK | Lets compatible applications exchange live video between EC2 instances in AWS. | Requires appropriate EFA-capable instance types and network placement; the stated 4K at 60 fps scope is within one Availability Zone. |
| MediaConnect CDI flow | Transports uncompressed or lightly compressed media through MediaConnect. | A CDI flow source must be in a configured Amazon VPC. CDI outputs in the documented workflow do not support transfer between Availability Zones. |
| MediaConnect ST 2110 JPEG XS path | Uses SMPTE ST 2110-22 for lightly compressed JPEG XS video. | This is a separate protocol option, not another name for CDI. |
For the MediaConnect details, see AWS’s guides to creating a flow that uses a CDI source and media streams in MediaConnect.
CDI and SMPTE ST 2110 are different paths
SMPTE ST 2110 separates media into streams, such as video, audio, and ancillary data. In AWS’s documentation, ST 2110-20 is the uncompressed-video path, while ST 2110-22 carries JPEG XS lightly compressed video. MediaConnect treats its CDI and ST 2110 JPEG XS configurations as distinct options; describing all ST 2110 as uncompressed CDI would blur an important technical difference.
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MediaConnect supports specific ST 2110 media-stream types, not every type in the broader standards family. AWS Elemental Live also documents product-specific content profiles: its uncompressed profile covers SD, HD, and 4K, progressive or interlaced, 4:2:2, 10-bit; its JPEG XS profile covers SD and HD, progressive or interlaced, 4:2:2, 8-, 10-, or 12-bit. Those are AWS product capabilities, not a complete definition of SMPTE standards. See AWS’s documentation on working with SMPTE 2110 and supported content.
Choosing a transport for a cloud production workflow
The right path depends on where media originates, where it must go, and how much bandwidth the network can provide.
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- Application-to-application transport inside AWS: Consider the CDI SDK when compatible applications on suitably placed EC2 instances need to exchange live video.
- Uncompressed media: CDI or ST 2110-20 can preserve uncompressed video, but this demands the network capacity and compatible infrastructure the workflow requires.
- Lower contribution bandwidth: AWS describes JPEG XS over ST 2110-22 as an option to reduce Direct Connect bandwidth in its contribution example. It is lightly compressed, not uncompressed CDI.
- On-premises contribution into AWS: AWS’s MediaConnect example bridges on-premises SDI, 2022-6, or 2110 networks with VPC CDI using Direct Connect.
- Cross-Availability-Zone delivery: The cited MediaConnect workflow does not support CDI output transfers between Availability Zones; AWS points to ST 2110 JPEG XS outputs for delivery to another zone.
- Audio and ancillary data: Check the exact MediaConnect stream-type support table for the required media essence. Do not assume every ST 2110 stream type is supported.
See AWS’s MediaConnect contribution example for CDI flows when planning an on-premises-to-cloud topology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What an implementation depends on
- EC2 compatibility: Confirm that the chosen instance type supports EFA; AWS limits EFA availability to certain Nitro-based EC2 types.
- Placement and network design: Clustered placement groups are recommended for optimal SDK performance, but may not work for every interoperability requirement.
- Availability Zone boundaries: The SDK’s cited 4K-at-60-fps scope is between instances in the same Availability Zone. MediaConnect CDI outputs have a separate cross-zone limitation.
- MediaConnect source setup: A CDI flow source must be in an Amazon VPC configured for the workflow.
- Protocol and essence compatibility: Verify the specific MediaConnect source, output, and media stream types required, rather than assuming broad ST 2110 compatibility.
- Current AWS configuration: Instance support, service availability, protocol details, and pricing can change; validate them against current AWS documentation when designing the deployment.
Developers can start with the AWS CDI SDK guide and its getting-started instructions.
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Cost: the SDK is free, but the workflow is not necessarily
AWS states that there are no fees for the CDI SDK itself. That does not make a deployed production workflow cost-free: an architecture may also use EC2, MediaConnect, Direct Connect, VPC networking, and other AWS services. There is no single workflow price established here; estimate the actual services and configuration in the current AWS pricing tools before deployment.
Or let it run in the cloud
AWS CDI is for transporting live media between compatible applications in AWS. If your goal instead is to keep a pre-recorded YouTube channel live around the clock, StreamNeo is a different kind of service: upload a recording or create a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded video from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. Each slot supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card.
StreamNeo streams to YouTube only; it is not a camera-live service or an AWS CDI transport. Try it at StreamNeo or start your free first day.
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