Hostsoftware

Hostsoftware refers to the software stack that runs on a physical host computer to support or manage hosted workloads, such as virtual machines or containers. It operates at the platform or 'host' level, in contrast to guest software that runs inside virtual machines or containers. The term is used across virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and data center operations to describe the underlying host platform.

Core components of hostsoftware typically include the host operating system or firmware, the virtualization layer or hypervisor (for Type 1 or Type 2 deployments), and management, monitoring, and security agents installed on the host. In containerized setups, hostsoftware also encompasses the kernel and container runtimes, plus any orchestration agents that run on the host to manage workloads.

Hostsoftware provides resource management, isolation, and I/O access for guest environments, coordinates bootstrapping and lifecycle of guests, and implements networking and storage integration with the rest of the data center. It is distinguished from guest software by its interaction with physical hardware and its role as the platform beneath virtual machines or containers.

Deployment models vary. Type 1 hypervisors run directly on hardware with specialized host software, while Type 2 hypervisors operate as applications atop a host OS. In cloud or cluster contexts, hostsoftware is often part of a larger management plane that includes scheduling and fault tolerance features.

Maintenance considerations include regular updates, compatibility with hardware and firmware, patch management, and robust security practices to protect the host from compromise, since breaches at the host level can affect multiple guest workloads.