Datanauts 055: All About Scaling Out

When an application needs more of something (CPU, memory, disk, and so on) you’ve got two choices: you can scale up, or scale out.

In simple terms, scaling up means buying a bigger or faster box. Scaling out means replicating boxes (three servers instead of two, for example), and distributing your application across these units.

As we begin to reach the limits of Moore’s Law, scaling up becomes less of an option, so it makes sense to understand scale-out. But even without such limitations, there are plenty of good reasons to adopt scale-out architectures.

Today’s Datanauts episode delves into the nitty-gritty of how scale-out works for servers, networking, and storage; what scale-out means for application design and operations; and how vendors, open source projects, and cloud services are positioning themselves in a scale-out world.

Sponsor: Firebind

Firebind keeps your ISP honest. If a good Internet connection is critical to you or your customers’ business operations, trust Firebind to give you the visibility you need to keep business on track. Check out their website at firebind.com and request a free trial. Mention the Packet Pushers podcast and get a free month of service!