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overcommitment

overcommitment

6.7
Giving more computer resources than the system actually has
  • noun
  • /ˌoʊvərkəˈmɪtmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sobrecarga
  • The system administrator warned that overcommitment of memory could lead to server crashes.

Examples

  • Virtual machines may run slowly if there is significant overcommitment of CPU resources.

  • To maximize efficiency, some data centers rely on overcommitment but monitor performance closely.

  • The overcommitment of resources led to system crashes.

  • Many organizations face overcommitment issues in their projects.

  • The system administrator warned that overcommitment of memory could lead to server crashes.

  • To maximize efficiency, some data centers rely on overcommitment but monitor performance closely.

  • Virtual machines may run slowly if there is significant overcommitment of CPU resources.

Synonyms

overextension
vsovercommitment
1 5.8

Taking on more work or responsibility than can be handled

focuses on allocating more resources than physically available in technical contexts
oversubscription
vsovercommitment
7.2

A situation where more people want something than there are places

describes actively assigning more resources than physically exist risking failure

How Allocated

overcommitment
  • Specialized
6.7
allocation
52 4.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

overcommitment = overcommit (transparent) = over + commit + ment

In computing contexts the verb 'overcommit' (allocate more resources than available) is directly nominalized by '-ment' with no change in compositionality.

Etymology

In computing, overcommitment uses the same parts: over- ('too much') and commitment ('a promise' to give something), so it means giving out more memory or processor time than is really there, which can make systems faster sometimes but also cause slowdowns or crashes.