What is the term for the main computer hardware on which software is resident?

• A. Server
• B. Host
• C. Client
• D. Node

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is distinguishing the machine that actually runs software from the services it provides. The term that refers to the physical (or virtual) hardware on which software executes is the host. A host is the machine that hosts the applications, supplying CPU, memory, storage, and network access where the software runs. In practice you might hear the software described as running on a host or on a server, but the hardware itself is the host.

A server, in contrast, is the service or role the software performs (or the software that provides resources). A client is the device that consumes those resources. A node is a general term for any device in a network. So, the hardware that hosts the software is best described as the host.