Hostsysteem

A hostsysteem, often referred to as a host system or simply host, is a computer that provides services or resources to other computers, known as clients. In a network environment, the host system typically possesses greater processing power, memory, and storage capacity than the client systems it serves. This allows it to manage and deliver shared resources such as files, printers, databases, or applications.

The concept of a host system is fundamental to client-server architecture. In this model, the host acts as the server, holding the primary data and processing logic, while clients request and receive information or functionality from the host. Examples include web servers hosting websites, mail servers managing email, and file servers providing access to shared documents.

In the context of virtualization, a host system refers to the physical computer on which virtual machines run. The host's hardware resources – CPU, RAM, and storage – are allocated to and shared among the guest operating systems running on the virtual machines. The host operating system manages these resources and allows the hypervisor, the software responsible for creating and running virtual machines, to function.

The term "host" can also be used more broadly to describe any system that "hosts" or runs another system or application. For instance, a gaming console could be considered a host system for the video games it runs, or a smartphone a host system for the various applications it executes. The defining characteristic is its role in providing the environment and resources for another entity to operate.