In one embodiment, a method for managing content in a content distribution network (CDN) is provided. The CDN includes a main controlling server, an edge node connected to the main controlling server, and an indexing system connected to the main controlling server. The method includes executing the following steps at the main controlling server: monitoring whether used storage space of the edge node exceeds a predetermined threshold value; acquiring a list of protected files (U1) from the indexing system if the used storage space exceeds the predetermined threshold value; performing directory traversal for the edge node to get a list of object files (U0) whose difference between latest modified time and the current time exceeds a predetermined time range; getting a list of files to be deleted U2=U0−U1; and deleting each of the file included in U2 from the edge node.