Shared vs Standalone vs Dedicated Solr -- Clear & Simple Guide

1. Shared Solr

• Multiple customers on the same machine/container.
• System resources are shared.
• Security is isolated --- not a concern.
• Lower cost, ideal for normal traffic.
• Possible downsides:
  • Heavy bot traffic can consume bandwidth and trigger upgrade alerts.\
  • In rare cases, a "noisy neighbor" may require relocating your index to another shared instance (few minutes of downtime to switch hostname).

2. Shared Resilient Cluster

• Multiple dedicated servers working together (load balancing + replicas), but resources are still shared across all customers.
• Better performance under heavy load.
• Bot traffic still consumes bandwidth, but the performance impact is lower.
• Designed for customers with higher traffic who don't want the cost of a fully dedicated cluster.

3. Dedicated Standalone

• One machine/container dedicated to a single customer.
• No noisy neighbors.
• Cheaper than a full dedicated cluster, more expensive than shared.
• Great for stable, predictable performance without interference from other users.

4. Dedicated Cluster Environment

• A full cluster (multiple dedicated machines) exclusively for one customer.
• You can create any number of indexes/cluster indexes inside this dedicated environment.
• Ideal for corporate-grade workloads, high traffic, mission‑critical applications.
• Offers redundancy, replication, scalability, and multi-region options.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Can we host all 5 sites inside one dedicated cluster?

Yes. You only need one dedicated cluster environment. Inside it, you can create as many indexes as needed.

Can another customer's bot traffic affect our performance on shared?

Rarely, but possible. We monitor these events and may relocate your index to another instance if needed.
For complete isolation, use Dedicated Standalone or Dedicated Cluster.

What are the risks of using the Shared Solr 8.11 Cluster in US‑EAST if our servers run in US‑WEST?

• Only network latency (~80--130ms).\
• You can test this easily during the free trial.\
• Normal performance will be similar to dedicated, unless you're under very heavy load.

Is there any security concern on shared environments?

No. Indexes are fully isolated.

6. Quick Comparison

Option Cost Performance Isolation Best For

Shared Low Medium Low Normal traffic

Shared Medium High Medium High traffic Resilient without big budget Cluster

Dedicated Medium‑High Very High Very High Avoiding noisy Standalone neighbors

Dedicated High Excellent Maximum Enterprise & Cluster mission‑critical workloads

Summary

Shared = cheap but shared resources.
Shared Cluster = stronger, still shared.
Dedicated Standalone = private, fast, stable.
Dedicated Cluster = top tier, enterprise-grade.