What are possible options for adding capacity to a web server farm?

Adding capacity to a web server farm can be accomplished through several methods, and each option serves a distinct purpose depending on the organization's specific requirements and infrastructure.

Vertical scaling, also known as scaling up, refers to adding more resources (such as CPU, RAM, and storage) to an existing server. This approach can optimize the performance of a single server but comes with limitations, as there is a maximum capacity that each server can support. It is often simpler initially, as it doesn't require changes across multiple servers.

Horizontal scaling, or scaling out, involves adding more servers to the existing pool or farm. This method increases capacity by distributing the workload across multiple, smaller machines instead of relying on a single powerful server. It's a common approach in cloud environments and is particularly useful for handling increased traffic and load, as it provides redundancy and improved fault tolerance.

Cloud bursting is a hybrid cloud resource scaling method that allows a web server farm to utilize external cloud resources during peak loads. This approach leverages additional compute power from the cloud when on-premises resources are insufficient. It is particularly useful for applications with unpredictable spikes in traffic.

All of these methods—vertical scaling, horizontal scaling, and cloud bursting—are viable options for enhancing the capacity of a web server farm,