Capacity Planning with Style

ScyllaDB has introduced a Cloud Calculator designed to assist users in estimating costs based on database needs while highlighting that effective capacity planning goes beyond basic calculations, especially in stateful systems like databases. The tool offers recommendations for server types and costs, considering factors such as read/write operations and data sizes, and allows comparisons with other NoSQL databases like Amazon DynamoDB and DataStax Astra. However, it also has limitations, as it doesn't account for specific CPU or IO needs or advanced features like Workload Prioritization, and assumes a default replication factor. An example use case with the fictional BriefBot.ai illustrates how the calculator can be applied, emphasizing the importance of understanding database models and workload estimations for effective scaling and cost management. The article underscores the critical nature of capacity planning, suggesting that while the calculator provides a useful starting point, ongoing monitoring and adjustments are essential for maintaining efficient and resilient database operations.