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A host computer manages tasks and provides services to client computers in a networked environment. It distributes data, runs software applications, and can be used for database administration, publishing, and web development. It is also used as a license server for software applications.
A host computer is a centralized workstation, server, or mainframe computing device located within a networked environment that manages tasks, communicates instructions, or provides specific services to other networked computers known as clients. Most often, the host computer allows client computers to access and run specific software applications, which allow users to perform database administration, documentation editing, publishing, web development, and video editing. The host computer often serves as the central hub for distributing data and managing activities in a networked community.
A database or information repository often resides on a host computer or centralized workstation. Depending on the software application and specific usage, this device will be the primary distribution center responsible for feeding critical data to several or hundreds of client computers. This data could include customer information, inventory, product specifications or media files that the customer may need to view as part of a company-wide broadcast. Most often this device is running an administrative version of the software that allows administrative tasks to be performed while the client computer is running a similar version that only allows data entry and viewing of specific information. Each client operator depends on the performance and stability of the host computer to access information accurately and quickly.
In a small publishing environment, this type of system can be used to catalog existing content, marketing materials, graphics, and photography that are constantly being used by writers, editors, and designers as they build a collection of information for distribution. Authors can create initial drafts and copy them to a specific folder on the host computer where an editor can retrieve, edit and return the drafts with the necessary changes. As the process continues, the content might be moved to a sub-location or folder where publication designers then work with the content to determine the concept, design the pages, and build the publication to be ready for distribution.
When licensing software, a host computer is sometimes required to host a data file, which contains specific hardware and network information about each client assigned to run the software application for you. Often this computer is called a license server or key server because it will provide remote authorization from its location for a predetermined number of users or seats of software for legal use in a network environment. Along with many other uses, a host computer can serve a multitude of purposes to aid in the efficient operation of a functioning network.
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