Unlike vertical scaling, which increases the power of a single server, horizontal scaling distributes the workload across multiple servers, enhancing fault tolerance, availability, and scalability. This approach is particularly effective in environments with fluctuating demands, as it allows systems to scale up or down seamlessly based on usage.
Use Cases for Horizontal Scaling:
- To handle increased traffic, additional web servers can be added to balance the load and maintain performance.
- Horizontal scaling is used in distributed databases to manage large volumes of data by spreading it across multiple servers.
- Supports scalability by adding more instances of microservices to accommodate growing demands.
- To improve content delivery speed and reliability by distributing servers across various locations.
ProsperTip:
When scaling your system horizontally, start small and monitor performance before adding more servers. This approach helps you avoid unnecessary costs and ensures your scaling efforts are aligned with actual demand.
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