Definition
Giving one machine more CPU, RAM or disk (scale up), rather than adding more machines.
How it works
Simplest path — no distributed-systems complexity, no resharding — and often the right first move. But it hits a hard ceiling (the biggest box money can buy), is a single point of failure, and gets expensive fast. Most systems scale up until they must scale out.
Common questions
What is Vertical Scaling?
Giving one machine more CPU, RAM or disk (scale up), rather than adding more machines.
How does Vertical Scaling work?
Simplest path — no distributed-systems complexity, no resharding — and often the right first move. But it hits a hard ceiling (the biggest box money can buy), is a single point of failure, and gets expensive fast. Most systems scale up until they must scale out.
What is Vertical Scaling used for in system design?
Simplest path — no distributed-systems complexity, no resharding — and often the right first move. But it hits a hard ceiling (the biggest box money can buy), is a single point of failure, and gets expensive fast. Most systems scale up until they must scale out.