RDS connection budget per pod
Connection limits depend on engine defaults, instance memory, and parameter-group overrides. Start by estimating usable connections, then divide by your max pod count to get a per-pod budget.
Example: if usable connections are 800 and you run 20 pods, the budget is 800 ÷ 20 = 40 connections per pod. Keep some buffer for admin tasks and bursts.
FAQs
Does every pod get its own pool? Yes. Each pod maintains its own pool, so total needed connections = pods × pool size.
What changes the budget the most? Instance memory, engine defaults, and any custom max_connections overrides.
Should I set headroom? Yes. Reserve a percentage for spikes and operational access before allocating per-pod budgets.
Open the preset
Use this preset to start with a baseline Kubernetes per-pod pool scenario.
Open calculator with this preset