How to Handle a MySQL/MariaDB Database That Outgrows a Single Host?

Consider this: the best queries are the ones you don’t have to run at all! Can you utilize something like Redis to offload some database traffic? Also, Percona XtraDB Cluster (PXC) could be a straightforward way to expand capacity without diving deep into traffic management.

Why do people immediately suggest switching to PostgreSQL? It's not a cure-all for scaling issues. If you're experiencing performance difficulties, it's essential to identify the actual bottlenecks in your app first. Your question really hints at a broader problem; make sure you're not just looking at symptoms without addressing underlying issues.

One solid way to tackle this is to add a reader and split the workload at the application level. If your database handles mostly reads (like a 90/10 ratio), scaling with multiple readers can significantly help.

If your load is heavier on writes, you’ll want to consider multi-master setups, like using Galera. Also, tools like Vitess can help ease the scaling process. Don't forget about ProxySQL—it can optimize your setup by enabling query caching and pooling for your MySQL nodes.

Partitioning is another option you could explore. I've dealt with reducing strain on a 25 GB SQL database with only 4 GB of RAM by effectively partitioning it. Depending on your needs, sharding can also be useful, where you compute shard keys to manage your read/write operations more efficiently, but remember this might complicate broad queries across your datasets.

Honestly, MySQL might not be the best foundation if you find yourself constantly hitting walls with performance. However, it’s worth analyzing your workload carefully. Do you have optimized queries and proper indexing? Understanding the specifics of your workload—including read vs. write ratios—can provide clarity on how to scale without just throwing more hardware at the problem.