How much RAM do I need for a database server?

A general rule is to allocate enough RAM to hold your active dataset. For MySQL/PostgreSQL, start with 4GB for small databases, 16-32GB for medium workloads, and 64-128GB for large production databases.

What is the difference between vCPU and physical CPU?

A vCPU represents a portion of a physical CPU core. In most cloud environments, 1 vCPU equals 1 physical CPU thread (not a full core). Hyperthreaded cores provide 2 vCPUs.

Should I use SSD or HDD storage for VMs?

Use SSD (or NVMe) for databases, applications, and operating systems—the higher IOPS dramatically improve performance. Use HDD for archival storage and backups where cost matters more than speed.

How do I plan for high availability?

Deploy identical VMs across multiple availability zones with load balancing. For databases, use synchronous replication with automatic failover. Plan for N+1 capacity so one failure doesn't impact performance.

How accurate are cloud cost estimates?

Estimates provide rough guidance based on on-demand pricing. Actual costs depend on instance family, region, reserved capacity, spot usage, and data transfer. Reserved instances reduce costs 40-60%.

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VM Resource Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the VM Resource Calculator

Start with workload type (database, web server, application), concurrent users, and growth expectations. Databases need more RAM and IOPS; web servers need network bandwidth. Begin with conservative estimates and scale up based on monitoring.

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This tool is provided for informational and educational purposes only. All processing happens entirely in your browser - no data is sent to or stored on our servers. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties about the completeness or reliability of results. Use at your own discretion.