Refine Baseline Sizing Figures

Your next step is to refine your sizing figure. In this section, you build in the appropriate amount of headroom so that you can deploy a portal site that features scalability, high availability, reliability and good performance.

Because your baseline sizing figure is based on so many estimates, do not use this figure without refining it.

When you refine your baseline sizing figure:

• Use your baseline sizing figure as a reference point.

• Expect variations from your baseline sizing figure.

• Learn from the experience of others.

• Use your own judgement and knowledge.

• Examine other factors in your deployment.

  If the Portal Server deployment involves multiple data centers on several continents and even traffic, you need a higher final sizing figure than if you have two single data centers on one continent with heavy traffic.

• Plan for changes.

  A portal site is likely to experience various changes after you launch it. Changes you might encounter include the following:

  • An increase in the number of channels

  • Growth in the user base

  • Modification of the portal site’s purpose

  • Changes in security needs

  • Power failures

  • Maintenance demands

    Considering these factors enables you to develop a sizing figure that is flexible and enables you to avoid risk when your assumptions regarding your portal change following deployment.

    The resulting figure ensures that your portal site has:

  • Scalability high availability, reliability and high performance

  • Room for whatever you want to provide

  • Flexibility for adjusting to changes