AWS Cloud Digital Interface (CDI) is an SDK and transport technology that lets video applications exchange live, uncompressed media inside AWS. It is built for cloud broadcast and production workflows—not for consumer playback or general-purpose streaming over the public internet. AWS says its SDK uses Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) and Scalable Reliable Datagram (SRD) to move video between EC2 instances with latency as low as one frame, subject to network placement and buffering.
What AWS CDI is—and what it is not
The AWS CDI SDK provides a way for software endpoints in AWS to send and receive live video. It is intended for workloads such as cloud-based broadcast production, where applications need to exchange high-quality video with low latency. AWS describes the SDK as supporting uncompressed UHD data rates up to 4K at 60 frames per second between EC2 instances in the same Availability Zone, when the instances and network are suitably configured. AWS CDI SDK User Guide
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CDI is not a codec: it does not describe how video is compressed. Nor is it a general-purpose internet streaming protocol for sending a finished channel to viewers. It is a cloud transport and software integration layer whose performance depends on AWS networking and compatible EC2 infrastructure.
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AWS says the SDK transport stack uses Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) and Scalable Reliable Datagram (SRD). EFA is available only on a limited set of Nitro-based EC2 instance types. AWS recommends clustered placement groups for optimal performance, although that arrangement may not suit every interoperability scenario. Check the current SDK guide for supported instances and deployment requirements before designing a workflow.
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AWS describes latency as low as a single video frame. That is a capability claim, not a guarantee for every deployment: the guide notes that buffering may be needed depending on node proximity and placement. It also states a performance goal of no more than one dropped frame in a 24-hour period; treat this as the SDK’s stated goal rather than a service-level guarantee.
CDI SDK versus a MediaConnect CDI flow
The name also appears in AWS Elemental MediaConnect. A MediaConnect CDI flow is a managed flow option that carries uncompressed or lightly compressed media and is tied to VPC networking: its source must be in a VPC configured with Amazon VPC. It is related to, but not the same thing as, integrating the CDI SDK directly into applications. MediaConnect User Guide
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| Option | What it does | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| CDI SDK | Enables application-to-application video transport between supported EC2 instances. | Performance depends on EFA-capable hardware, placement, and buffering; the cited 4K/60p capability is scoped to instances in one Availability Zone. |
| MediaConnect CDI flow | Provides a MediaConnect flow for uncompressed or lightly compressed media, including workflows connecting VPC sources and broadcast infrastructure. | Requires a VPC source. In the documented contribution workflow, CDI outputs do not support transfer between Availability Zones. |
| MediaConnect ST 2110 JPEG XS | Uses SMPTE ST 2110-22 with JPEG XS for lightly compressed video carried as media streams. | It is a separate protocol option from CDI, not another name for uncompressed CDI. |
For a contribution workflow bridging an on-premises SDI, 2022-6, or 2110 network with VPC CDI, AWS describes using Direct Connect. If delivery to another Availability Zone is needed, AWS points to ST 2110 JPEG XS outputs as the alternative in that documented case. Confirm current service support and topology constraints before deployment.
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CDI, SMPTE 2110-20, and SMPTE 2110-22
SMPTE 2110 is a family of standards for professional media over IP, with separate media streams rather than one combined program stream. In AWS Elemental documentation, ST 2110-20 refers to uncompressed video; ST 2110-22 refers to JPEG XS lightly compressed video. MediaConnect’s JPEG XS path can expose separate video, audio, and ancillary-data streams. These paths should not be conflated with CDI.
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AWS documentation also describes product-specific support rather than defining the full standards. For example, the cited Elemental Live profile lists uncompressed SD, HD, and 4K, progressive or interlaced, 4:2:2, 10-bit video; its JPEG XS profile lists SD and HD, progressive or interlaced, 4:2:2, 8-, 10-, or 12-bit video. MediaConnect’s supported stream types are likewise product-specific and do not cover every ST 2110 media type. Check the relevant product’s current support tables for the formats and ancillary data in your workflow.
When to use uncompressed CDI or JPEG XS
- Choose uncompressed CDI or ST 2110-20 when preserving uncompressed video is central to the workflow and the network, interfaces, and supported products can handle the required data rates.
- Consider ST 2110-22 with JPEG XS when a lightly compressed path is acceptable and reducing bandwidth—such as on a Direct Connect contribution link—is useful.
- Check the transport boundary first: the CDI SDK suits application-to-application exchange in AWS; MediaConnect flows suit managed routing between VPC sources and supported external broadcast workflows.
- Map the topology: verify Availability Zone placement, EFA-capable instance availability, VPC interfaces, and any on-premises connectivity. The MediaConnect CDI output limitation across Availability Zones can change the design.
- Validate every media essence: verify video format, audio, and ancillary-data support for the specific AWS service and product version rather than assuming the protocol name guarantees support.
Cost and getting started
AWS states that the CDI SDK itself has no fee. That does not make a deployed workflow free: a real design may also use EC2, MediaConnect, Direct Connect, VPC, and other AWS services. There is no single workflow price established here; estimate the services and data transfer for your architecture using current AWS pricing.
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Developers can start with the AWS CDI SDK getting-started documentation and its integration materials. Select compatible EC2 instances, plan placement and VPC networking, then verify the required source, output, and media formats against current AWS documentation.
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