Horizontal Scaling Tradeoffs in NewSQL Databases

Introduction

Horizontal scaling, often referred to as scaling out, involves adding more machines to a pool of resources to handle an increasing load. In NewSQL databases, this approach is crucial for maintaining performance as data and transaction volumes grow.

Key Concepts

Tradeoffs

While horizontal scaling has many benefits, it also presents several tradeoffs:

• Increased complexity in data distribution and consistency.
• Potential performance bottlenecks due to network latency.
• Higher operational costs due to managing multiple nodes.

Flowchart: Horizontal Scaling Decision Process

            graph TD;
                A[Start] --> B{Is the current system underperforming?};
                B -- Yes --> C{Can it scale vertically?};
                B -- No --> D[Monitor performance];
                C -- Yes --> E[Scale Vertically];
                C -- No --> F[Scale Horizontally];
                F --> G[Manage additional nodes];
                F --> H[Implement data sharding];
                E --> I[Monitor performance];
                G --> I;
            

Best Practices

To effectively implement horizontal scaling in NewSQL databases, consider the following best practices:

• Utilize data sharding to distribute data across multiple nodes.
• Implement load balancing to ensure even distribution of requests.
• Monitor performance metrics continually to identify potential bottlenecks.

FAQ