Performance Isn’t about High IOPS, it’s about SLA. Here’s Why.

In this detailed analysis, Alexander Sicular emphasizes the importance of understanding database architecture and capabilities beyond just high IOPS when ensuring Service Level Agreements (SLAs) during instability. The article contrasts Apache Cassandra with ScyllaDB, highlighting how ScyllaDB's architecture, which includes workload conditioning, heat weighted load balancing, and the use of the Seastar framework, provides resilience in the face of cluster instabilities without relying on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Through a case study of PagerDuty's 2017 service degradation, Sicular illustrates the challenges faced by distributed systems during node failures and the subsequent resource strains, underscoring the benefits of ScyllaDB's ability to dynamically manage resources and reduce latency spikes. The discussion extends to the importance of enterprise relationships with software vendors for optimal issue resolution, as exemplified by ScyllaDB's customer support. The piece concludes by appreciating transparency in root cause analyses, which offer valuable lessons in handling system failures and ensuring efficient recovery plans.