Host Operating System

What Does Host Operating System Mean?

A host operating system is the primary operating system (OS) installed on a computer system’s hard drive. In most cases, there is only one host OS. Other OSs, known as virtual OSs, may operate within the host OS.

Techopedia Explains Host Operating System

When virtual operating systems are required to deal with computer resources in different ways, one or more virtual operating systems are installed within the host operating system, allowing the operating systems to function simultaneously. However, the host operating system must boot first, then the other operating system(s) boots.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…

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