Content Delivery (CD)

Current version: 10.1

The Content Delivery (CD) role handles requests from visitors across channels, determines which content to serve, and renders output in the relevant format for the channel.

You can configure one or more content delivery servers for improved scalability and better performance. If you expect to have high numbers of visitors or want to configure servers in different geographic locations, you can arrange content delivery servers into clusters.

Supported infrastructure

You can host the CD role on:

Refer to the Sitecore compatibility table for compatible versions.

Reference structure

The CD role has its place in the Sitecore reference structure. It can be referenced by other roles, and it can also reference other roles.

Illustration showing the Content Delivery role's place in the Sitecore reference structure.

Referenced by

The CD role is not referenced by other roles.

References

The CD role references the following roles:

Storage roles

Role name

Connection string name

Port

Type

Notes

Security database

security

1433

SQL

Optional. Federated authentication is recommended if you have multiple CD clusters.

Web database

web

1433

SQL

Forms database

experienceforms

1433

SQL

The connection strings for the Forms database and for file storage are the same by default. You can create your own file storage provider with a custom connection string. See Manage file storage for forms and The security roles in Sitecore Form for details.

Message Bus

messaging

1433

SQL

If you install Sitecore using SIF, SQL is the default provider. Not applicable to Experience Manager.

443

Azure Service Bus

If you install Sitecore on Azure, Azure Service Bus is the default provider. Azure Service Bus is available in 9.2 and later.

Private Session State Store

session

1433

SQL

Optional, for SQL session state provider

6379

HTTP

Optional, for Redis session state provider

Shared Session State Store

sharedsession

1433

SQL

Optional, for SQL session state provider

6379

HTTP

Optional, for Redis session state provider

Note

The Core database is not referenced by the Content Delivery role in Sitecore 9.1 and later.

Application roles

Role name

Connection string name

Default Port

Type

Notes

xConnect Collection service

xconnect.collection

HTTPS

 

Reference Data service

xdb.referencedata.client

HTTPS

Marketing Automation Operations service

xdb.marketingautomation.operations.client

HTTPS

Generally the same as reporting, unless you split the operations and reporting roles. Used to trigger live events.

Shops

5000

HTTPS

Configured in the /sitecore/commerceEngineConfiguration/shopsServiceUrl config element

The following client certificates and keys are required in a secure production environment:

Used for, role

Connection string name

Type

Notes

xConnect Collection service

xconnect.collection.certificate

Certificate

Reference Data service

xdb.referencedata.client.certificate

Certificate

Marketing Automation Operations service

xdb.marketingautomation.operations.client.certificate

Certificate

Shops

N/A

Certificate

Configured in the /sitecore/commerceEngineConfiguration/certificateThumbprint config element

EXM Dispatch

EXM.CryptographicKey

Key

Must match keys on EXM Dispatch and Content Management.

EXM Dispatch

EXM.AuthenticationKey

Key

Must match keys on EXM Dispatch and Content Management.

Search indexes

Note

The Content Search provider determines how the CD role connects to the indexes. Sitecore supports Azure Search and Solr.

Index

Port, Solr

Port, Azure Search

Type

Notes

Web index

8983

443

HTTPS

FXM Web index

8983

443

HTTPS

Only for XP installations

Web Marketing Definitions index

8983

443

HTTPS

Web Marketing Assets index

8983

443

HTTPS

For more information, see:

Cloud Services

Role Name

Port

Type

Endpoint URL

IP Geolocation

443

HTTPS

geoip-ces.cloud.sitecore.net

Device Detection

443

HTTPS

devicedetection-ces.cloud.sitecore.net

For more information, see:

Other

The Content Delivery role includes a reference to the Package Management Service via the PackageManagementServiceUrl connection string.

Privacy and security

The CD role handles personal data in the following ways:

  • Reads and utilizes the contact information from the Sitecore Experience Database.

  • Handles user logins (for example, via federated authentication).

  • Data submission (for example, via Experience Forms).

  • Has access to session state data, which includes the following:

    • A configurable list of contact facets.

    • Any known identifier passed into the IdentifyAs() method.

    • The contact ID (loaded into session state in Sitecore 9.2 and later)

Refer to the Security Guide for steps to secure the CD role.

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