Capacity Planning with Metrics

1. Introduction

Capacity planning is a crucial component of observability, ensuring that applications and infrastructure can handle expected loads without degradation of service.

This lesson will guide you through the key concepts, metrics, processes, and best practices for effective capacity planning.

2. Key Concepts

3. Metrics

Key metrics for capacity planning include:

• CPU Utilization
• Memory Usage
• Disk I/O
• Network Latency
• Request Count

These metrics should be monitored regularly to make informed decisions about scaling resources.

4. Step-by-Step Process

            graph TD;
                A[Define Goals] --> B[Collect Metrics];
                B --> C[Analyze Data];
                C --> D[Plan Resources];
                D --> E[Implement Changes];
                E --> F[Monitor Performance];
                F --> C;
            

Follow these steps for effective capacity planning:

1. Define Goals: Understand what you want to achieve with capacity planning.
2. Collect Metrics: Gather relevant metrics from your systems.
3. Analyze Data: Use the collected metrics to analyze current capacity.
4. Plan Resources: Determine what resources are required for future demands.
5. Implement Changes: Apply changes based on your analysis.
6. Monitor Performance: Continuously monitor performance to adjust plans as necessary.

5. Best Practices

To ensure successful capacity planning, consider the following best practices:

• Regularly review and update your metrics.
• Involve cross-functional teams in planning discussions.
• Utilize automated monitoring tools to track performance.
• Set thresholds and alerts for critical metrics.
• Plan for unexpected spikes in demand.

6. FAQ