The word "burstable" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈbɜːstəbəl/. The first syllable "bur-" is pronounced with a stressed "er" sound, while the second syllable "-st-" is pronounced with a voiced "s" sound followed by a "t" sound. The final syllable "-able" is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by the consonant "b" and a long "l" sound. The word "burstable" refers to the ability of a computer or network to handle sudden spikes in traffic or usage.
Burstable refers to a computing or network resource that can handle sudden surges or spikes in usage or demand for a limited period of time. This term is commonly used in the field of cloud computing and telecommunications.
In cloud computing, a burstable resource is typically a virtual machine or a container that is initially allocated a certain baseline level of resources, such as CPU, memory, or storage. However, if the application or workload running on this resource experiences a sudden increase in demand, it can temporarily use additional resources beyond the baseline. These additional resources are known as "burst" resources and are usually made available by the cloud provider on an as-needed basis. Once the spike in demand subsides, the resource reverts back to its baseline level.
Similarly, in networking, burstable bandwidth refers to an internet connection or network link that allows for occasional bursts in data transfer rate beyond the subscribed or guaranteed bandwidth. This burst capacity enables faster data transmission for short periods, accommodating sudden traffic spikes without adversely affecting the overall network performance.
Overall, the concept of burstable revolves around the ability to handle short-term increases in usage or demand, offering the flexibility to scale resources temporarily, ensure uninterrupted performance, and provide a cost-effective solution where businesses only pay for additional resources when needed.
The word "burstable" is derived from the noun "burst", which dates back to the late 16th century. "Burst" originated from the Old English word "berstan", meaning "break suddenly" or "burst open". Over time, the suffix "-able" was added to "burst" to create "burstable", forming an adjective that describes something capable of bursting or breaking open.