Difference Between Host and Guest Operating System

An Operating System (OS) can be defined as a mediator, which works between the software & hardware of a computer The common task of OS includes memory management, managing different resources, device management, file handling, and others. Examples of some popular OS are Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

In this article, we will see the difference between a Host Operating System and a Guest Operating System. First of all, it's important to understand what the host and guest operating systems are. Let us take the introduction to them one by one.

Host Operating System

A host operating system is a piece of software that runs on a computer and allows it to communicate with its hardware. It has the ability to run a type 2 hypervisor. Type 2 hypervisors, in other words, run on the host operating system.

Container-based virtualization may also be used by the host OS. The logical partitioning of server programs is aided by the use of containers. As a result, containers can be used without requiring each application to have its own operating system. It enables apps to share the operating system kernel while accessing distinct hardware resources. This form of the shared operating system is also known as a host operating system.

A single physical server can be separated into numerous virtual machines, which are separate pieces of hardware with loads of processing, storage, network capacity, and memory, thanks to virtualization. When it comes to sharing resources between the host and guest operating systems, virtualization is more efficient and less expensive.

Features of Host Operating System

• Hardware Abstraction: Host OS enables communication between software and hardware using a common language.
• Resource Management: Host OS efficiently manages CPU, memory, and disk space allocation among running programs.
• File System Management: Host OS organizes and maintains files and folders for easy access and structured data storage.
• Security: Host OS implements locks, firewalls, and safeguards to protect against unauthorized access and malware.
• Device Driver Support: Host OS enables effective communication between software and hardware through driver support.
• User Interface: Host OS provides a user-friendly interface, either through a visual interface or command-line interface.
• Networking: Host OS manages network connections, allowing devices to communicate and share data over the internet.
   

Guest Operating System

Hypervisors of type 2 can produce several Virtual Machines. Each computer has its own operating system, which is referred to as the guest OS. In other words, a guest OS is a piece of software that runs inside a virtual machine. As a result, the guest operating system is run by a virtual machine. In virtualization, the guest operating system differs from the host operating system in numerous respects, and it can be used as a portioned system component or a virtual machine part. It's primarily used for apps that run on a different operating system.

While the visitor and host operating systems share resources, their operations are completely separate. Although it is possible for these operating systems to run in parallel, the host operating system should be started first. Running applications and programs that are incompatible with the host OS is one of the main benefits of using a guest OS.

Features of Guest Operating System

• Application Support: Guest OS runs applications in the virtual environment.
• Hardware Abstraction: Guest OS mediates between applications and hardware using standardized interfaces.
• Resource Management: Guest OS efficiently manages system resources in the virtual environment.
• Device Driver Support: Guest OS includes drivers for communication with virtual hardware.
• Virtualization Support: Guest OS is designed for virtualized environments and manages virtual machines.
   

Key Differences

The main distinctions between the Host OS and the Guest OS are explained here. The following are some of the major differences between the host and guest operating systems:

• A host operating system is a piece of software that runs on a computer and connects with the hardware. A guest OS, on the other hand, is software that is installed on a virtual computer.
• It's possible that the host OS is a single one. The guest OS can be single or numerous.
• The host OS runs on the hardware directly. The guest OS runs on a virtual machine.

Feature-Based Comparison

The following are some examples of head-to-head comparisons between the host OS and the guest OS:

Conclusion

In summary, a guest operating system resides within a virtual machine (VM), managing its own resources. It interacts with the VM and runs multiple applications requiring different OS on the same hardware. On the other hand, the host operating system runs directly on physical hardware, managing system resources and interacting with the hardware. It helps partition applications in a server environment.