What is meant by the term 'host machine'?

The term 'host machine' refers to a real physical machine providing resources. In computing, the host machine is the primary physical computer which runs the operating system and supports the execution of various applications, including virtual machines or containers.

A host machine provides the necessary processing power, memory, storage, and network capabilities for virtual instances or applications. It operates the virtual machines, allowing them to share its hardware resources. This understanding is crucial in fields like virtualization, where distinguishing between the host machine and guest machines (the virtual instances) is essential for properly managing resources and ensuring performance.

In contrast, other options describe components related to virtualization and cloud computing but do not accurately represent the definition of a host machine.