What is the default configuration recommendation for Tableau Server regarding node count for high availability?

The default configuration recommendation for Tableau Server regarding node count for high availability is four nodes. This configuration ensures that the server can sustain a certain level of fault tolerance and performance, allowing for machine failures without a complete service disruption.

Having four nodes allows for a more balanced distribution of workloads and provides redundancy, which is critical in a high-availability scenario. Specifically, if one node goes down, the remaining nodes can continue to serve requests without significant degradation in performance. Additionally, with four nodes, you can run load balancing across the nodes, which improves overall system responsiveness and enhances user experience.

In contrast, fewer nodes might not provide adequate redundancy and could risk performance drops during load spikes or when one node fails. More nodes than necessary can lead to increased complexity and resource consumption without proportionate benefits. Therefore, the recommendation for four nodes strikes an optimal balance between operational stability, performance, and manageability in a high availability setup for Tableau Server.