What is needed for clustering/load balancing?
I am setting up a service which will be resource intensive for the server. So I have two choices:
1) Buy as much power as the budget allows, so that will be dual processors, gigs of mem and the fastest SCSI drives.
2) Or I do it the "google-way", I buy 2-3 "simple" servers (1 processor, lesser memory, still SCSI disks (for the database)) and when I need more power I just add more servers.
So the options are to have the power balanced inside the server, or outside using more than one server. My service will allow users to send ezines (NO spam, only 100% legal opt-in), so if I decide to do it the "Google-way" (option 2) I could use 1 server for the database and one for the mailing. These can be different servers in specifications.
Combining the options would be too pricey. It is not that I want it totally cheap by the way, I just want to start with the best solution thinking long-term.
My question is: What would be a better (if not more cost-effective) way. On the long term option 2 is better, especcially since you have to buy a new, powerfull (and therefore expensive) server which you maybe only using for lesser than 1 %, just to catch up peaks.
Also, if one server goes down, you still have the other server(s) to back it up, and if a server damages, you can have a backup on the other server.
I do realise the option 2 is not just putting the servers in a rack and watch the money roll in, it needs clustering (if not load-balancing) to make it work.
Just to make sure I have my knowledge right:
Clustering: Having more than one server for different purposers, for excample a database server, a mailing server and a webserver.
Load balacing: Having more than one server for the same purpose, where the load (the traffic) is balanced between the available servers.
So actually I have two questions: What would be the best option for performance (also considered I don't have Bill Gates's bank account
), option 1 or 2?And if I go for option 2, what will I need to cluser/load balance?
Thank you very much in advance,
Jacco
