Common Questions
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about Stackbooster.io's platform, features, and operations.
General
What is Stackbooster.io?
Stackbooster.io is an AI-powered cost optimization platform for Kubernetes clusters running on AWS. It automatically analyzes your infrastructure usage patterns and implements intelligent scaling strategies to reduce costs while maintaining application performance.
How does Stackbooster.io differ from Kubernetes Cluster Autoscaler?
The standard Kubernetes Cluster Autoscaler reacts to immediate resource needs based on pod scheduling events. Stackbooster.io takes a more sophisticated approach by:
- Analyzing historical usage patterns to predict future needs
- Considering multiple metrics beyond just CPU/memory usage
- Implementing proactive scaling to prevent performance issues
- Optimizing instance selection based on workload characteristics
- Providing cluster hibernation during inactive periods
- Consolidating workloads through intelligent pod placement
Which cloud providers do you support?
Currently, Stackbooster.io fully supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) with a focus on Amazon EKS. Support for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Microsoft Azure is on our roadmap and expected in future releases.
Is Stackbooster.io suitable for production workloads?
Yes, Stackbooster.io is designed for production environments with critical workloads. Our platform includes safeguards to ensure that cost optimization never compromises application availability or performance. You can configure workload priorities to ensure that critical services always have the resources they need.
Functionality
How much can I save with Stackbooster.io?
Most customers see cost reductions of 30-70% on their Kubernetes infrastructure costs, depending on their initial optimization level and workload characteristics. The exact savings depend on factors like:
- Current resource utilization patterns
- Workload variability and predictability
- Instance types currently in use
- Willingness to use Spot instances
- Potential for cluster hibernation
Does Stackbooster.io replace my existing DevOps team?
No, Stackbooster.io complements your DevOps team by automating resource optimization tasks that would otherwise require significant manual effort. This allows your team to focus on higher-value activities while the platform handles routine scaling and optimization decisions.
How does cluster hibernation work?
Cluster hibernation automatically scales down your clusters during inactive periods (like nights and weekends) and restores them when needed. The process works by:
- Detecting when the cluster is idle based on your defined criteria
- Capturing the current state of the cluster
- Scaling down node groups to zero (or a minimum level you specify)
- Restoring the cluster when triggered by a schedule or external event
This can save 60-70% of costs for non-production clusters that don't need to run 24/7.
Can I override Stackbooster.io's decisions?
Yes, you can override any automated decision in several ways:
- Setting workload priorities to protect critical services
- Creating exclusion rules for specific nodes or workloads
- Implementing time-based rules for specific handling during key periods
- Manually adjusting cluster settings through the dashboard
- Creating node protection rules to prevent specific nodes from being removed
Integration & Setup
How long does it take to set up?
Basic setup takes just 10-15 minutes, involving:
- Creating your Stackbooster.io account (2 minutes)
- Connecting your AWS account via CloudFormation (5 minutes)
- Deploying the Kubernetes agent (3 minutes)
- Configuring basic optimization settings (5 minutes)
After initial setup, Stackbooster.io begins collecting data immediately, but typically requires 24-48 hours of monitoring before implementing significant optimizations.
Will installing Stackbooster.io disrupt my applications?
No, installing Stackbooster.io has no impact on your running applications. The installation process:
- Deploys a lightweight agent in its own namespace
- Does not modify your existing workloads
- Begins in monitoring-only mode by default
- Implements changes gradually according to your settings
Can I use Stackbooster.io with a private/air-gapped cluster?
Yes, for clusters without direct internet access, we offer:
- A private agent deployment option that communicates through a secure proxy
- Support for private VPC endpoints
- Custom network configuration for restrictive environments
- Option to use AWS PrivateLink for secure connectivity
Contact our sales team for detailed instructions on setting up Stackbooster.io in restricted environments.
Do I need to modify my application code or deployment?
No, Stackbooster.io works without requiring any changes to your application code or deployment configurations. It optimizes at the infrastructure level by making intelligent decisions about:
- Node group scaling
- Instance type selection
- Pod placement
- Cluster resource allocation
Security & Compliance
Is my data secure with Stackbooster.io?
Yes, we implement comprehensive security measures including:
- End-to-end encryption for all data transmission
- SOC 2 Type II compliance
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
- Minimal data collection (we never access your application data)
- Role-based access control for all user interactions
- Option to delete all collected data upon request
What access does Stackbooster.io need to my AWS account?
Stackbooster.io requires permissions to:
- View EKS cluster configurations
- Monitor EC2 instance metrics
- Modify Auto Scaling groups
- Access CloudWatch metrics and logs
- Start/stop EC2 instances
All permissions are clearly documented in our CloudFormation template and can be reviewed before installation.
Can I limit Stackbooster.io's access to specific clusters?
Yes, you can limit access in several ways:
- Grant access only to clusters with specific tags
- Restrict access to specific AWS regions
- Create custom IAM policies with granular permissions
- Use separate AWS accounts for different environments
Pricing & Billing
How is Stackbooster.io priced?
Stackbooster.io offers tiered pricing based on the size of your Kubernetes infrastructure:
- Startup: For small clusters with up to 25 nodes
- Business: For medium environments with up to 100 nodes
- Enterprise: For large deployments with unlimited nodes
Each tier includes different feature sets and support levels. Visit our pricing page for current rates and details.
Do you offer a free trial?
Yes, we offer a 14-day free trial with full platform capabilities. No credit card is required to start a trial, and you can connect up to 3 clusters to evaluate the platform's capabilities.
How do you calculate ROI?
Our dashboard includes a detailed ROI calculator that shows:
- Actual infrastructure cost savings achieved
- Projected annual savings based on current patterns
- Comparison with your baseline costs before optimization
- Breakdown of savings by cluster, namespace, and time period
What if I don't save money with Stackbooster.io?
We offer a performance guarantee: if Stackbooster.io doesn't reduce your costs within the first 60 days (while maintaining your application performance), you can cancel your subscription and receive a full refund.
Support & SLAs
What kind of support is included?
Support options vary by subscription tier:
- Startup: Email support with 24-hour response time, knowledge base access
- Business: Email and chat support with 8-hour response time, scheduled check-ins
- Enterprise: Dedicated support engineer, 2-hour response time, 24/7 emergency support
Do you offer a service level agreement (SLA)?
Yes, Business and Enterprise subscriptions include SLAs covering:
- Platform uptime (99.9%)
- Support response times
- Recovery time objectives
- Maximum scaling event failures
How can I get help with specific issues?
For technical support, you can:
- Consult our detailed troubleshooting guide
- Contact our support team via email or in-app chat
- Schedule a call with a solutions engineer
- Join our weekly office hours for live assistance
- Post questions to our community forum
Do you provide training for my team?
Yes, we offer several training options:
- Free onboarding webinars for all customers
- Detailed documentation and video tutorials
- Custom training sessions for Enterprise customers
- Certification program for platform administrators