An operating method of a server device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is a method in which a server device downloads content from another server connected to a network, and comprises the steps of: receiving content inventory information from the other server device; selecting encoded content from among the content of the other server device; acquiring encoding information on the selected content from the content inventory information; determining, on the basis of the encoding information, whether or not the selected content can be decoded; and transmitting a download request for the selected content to the other server device, if the selected content can be decoded.