Gjesteprogramvaren

Gjesteprogramvaren, or "guest software" in English, refers to software applications installed or run on a computer system that is not the primary or designated operating system. This typically occurs in virtualized environments where a host operating system runs one or more guest operating systems, each with its own set of applications. The guest software is the collection of programs and utilities that function within these guest operating systems.

In a virtual machine setup, the guest operating system and its associated software are isolated from the host. This isolation provides a secure sandbox for testing new software, running applications incompatible with the host OS, or maintaining different work environments. For example, a user might run Linux guest software on a Windows host, or vice versa, to access specific tools or develop cross-platform applications.

The performance and functionality of guest software can be significantly influenced by the underlying host system's resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage. Virtualization platforms often provide "guest additions" or "integration services" which are specialized drivers and utilities designed to improve the performance and user experience of the guest software by enabling better interaction between the guest and host operating systems. These additions can facilitate features like shared clipboards, seamless mouse integration, and optimized graphics.