3 ms·

Thanks for that answer, it seems quite a specialist job. So many moving parts. Why would you need random distribution and not just customers 1 to 100k for examp

• Keyframe 4y ago
  This depends on access patterns to your data.
• withinboredom 4y ago
  > Why would you need random distribution and not just customers 1 to 100k for example? To keep the databases from having hotspots. For example, if your average customer churns after 6 months, you'll have your "old customer" database mostly just idling, sucking up $$ that you can't downgrade to a smaller machine because there are still customers on it. Meanwhile, your "new customer" database is on fire, swamped with requests. By using a random distribution, you spread the load out. If you get fancy with some tooling, you can migrate customers between databases, and have a pool of small databases for "dead customers" and a more powerful pool for "live customers" or even have geographical distribution and use the datacenter closest to them. But you really do need some fancy tooling to pull that off, but it is doable.
  • kcartlidge 4y ago
    > Meanwhile, your "new customer" database is on fire, swamped with requests. By using a random distribution, you spread the load out. Great answer.