(Last updated on: February 17, 2023)
A couple years ago, we were asked by one of our customers if Webtix could handle a Willie Nelson on-sale. We asked for more details:
- It would be The One and Only Willie Nelson
- The performance would be in the Michiana Events Center, a 5,500 seat venue
- All seats would go on sale at 10:00 in the morning
- As many sales as possible would go through Webtix
Needless to say, a sellout was expected.
We realized that it would be challenging for our server setup. So, we gave the server more resources (a lot more resources). Other than that, there wasn’t any change.
The big day came. Webtix sold over 2,000 tix in about 20 minutes. After it was over, we came up with an idea. Why not have the servers increase automatically? This is a configuration called an autoscaling server. The number of servers increases to match the load. When the load is over, the servers are shut down. The project was undertaken and completed about 9 months ago. It has worked flawlessly. Theatres regularly put 1,200 seats on sale with no problem. They don’t even call us.
In our offices, the server configuration became known as the “Full Willie.” It solved a challenge.