Optimized data stream upload

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program executable by a processor to perform a method for managing entry of a data stream from a computing device into a distributed server network having a plurality of entry servers, the method comprising:

• receiving at a first server an entry server assignment request from the computing device, the entry server assignment request including metadata and requesting to transmit the data stream into the distributed server network via a network, the metadata identifying:
• a first geographic location of the computing device based on information input by a user of the computing device, and
• a second geographic location of the computing device based on an IP address of the computing device;
• analyzing the entry server assignment request to select an entry server from the one or more servers of the plurality of entry servers to receive the data stream, the entry server selected based on a plurality of estimated performance metrics for a network path from the computing device to the entry server, the plurality of performance metrics estimated based on the first geographic location and the second geographic location identified in the metadata;
• and
• transmitting entry server assignment data from the first server to the computing device in response to the entry server assignment request, the entry server assignment data requesting that the computing device transmit data in the data stream to the selected entry server.