Burstable instances are a type of virtual machine (VM) offered by cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. They are designed for workloads that have the following characteristics:

• Baseline Performance: Burstable instances provide a baseline level of CPU performance. Think of this as the standard amount of CPU power you're guaranteed.
• Bursting Capability: When needed, these instances can temporarily "burst" above their baseline CPU performance for short periods. This is ideal for handling unexpected spikes in demand.
• CPU Credits: Burstable instances use a system of CPU credits to regulate bursting. They earn credits when running below their baseline and spend credits when bursting.

Why Use Burstable Instances

• Cost-Effectiveness: Burstable instances are generally less expensive than comparable fixed-performance instances. They are a great choice when you don't need sustained maximum CPU all the time.
• Suitability for Spiky Workloads: Perfect for applications with fluctuating workloads, such as web servers, development and test environments, or batch processing tasks.
• Scalability: If a burstable instance can't keep up with the workload, you can easily adjust its size or type.

Common Examples

• AWS T-Series Instances: AWS's popular burstable instance family (e.g., T3, T4g).
• Azure B-Series Instances: Microsoft Azure's burstable offerings.
• Google Cloud N1 standard machine types: Some machine types within the N1 series on Google Cloud.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Sustained Bursting: If your workload consistently exceeds the baseline, you'll run out of CPU credits and your performance will be throttled.
• Monitoring: It's important to monitor your CPU credit balance when using burstable instances.