FWIW, the price actually works quite well for a lot of people. On a GB-for-GB basis, we're actually much cheaper than other hosted log management solutions -- we work hard on backend efficiency and we pass that along. But yes, if you're using small virtual servers then the pricing model breaks down. We originally went with this model to provide more predictability; log volume is often more volatile than server count. We've heard enough complaints that we've decided to move to more volume-based pricing model, we're just working out the details.
Thanks for the reply... as an OPs guy there are a ton of layered problems with running a highy elastic infra on something like AWS:
1. Dynamic registration of ephemeral systems with a monitoring platform.
2. Security monitoring of same
3. Meaningful graphing
When we are optimizing the purchase of hundreds upon hundreds of spot instances daily, where we are looking at grabbin hosts for just a couple cents an hour, the model of per host fees for things like StackDriver, CloudPassage and your service makes per-host pricing completely a no-go.
I don't have a good idea how these should be priced; but I think its important for people to understand all the other costs associated with having a solid management platform for your environment that covers all the bases and doesn't require another round of funding! :)
FWIW, the price actually works quite well for a lot of people. On a GB-for-GB basis, we're actually much cheaper than other hosted log management solutions -- we work hard on backend efficiency and we pass that along. But yes, if you're using small virtual servers then the pricing model breaks down. We originally went with this model to provide more predictability; log volume is often more volatile than server count. We've heard enough complaints that we've decided to move to more volume-based pricing model, we're just working out the details.