virtual host

1 definition found

virtual host - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  virtual host
  vhost
  
     <networking> Most computers on the Internet have a single
     Internet address; however, often via special kernel
     patches, a given computer can be made to respond to several
     IP addresses and provide different services (typically
     different Web services) on each.  Each of these different IP
     addresess (which generally each have their own hostname) act
     as if they were distinct hosts on distinct machines, even
     though they are actually all one host.  Hence, they are
     virtual hosts.  A common use is when an Internet Service Provider
      "hosts" World-Wide Web or other services for
     several of their customers on one computer but giving the
     appearence that they are separate servers.
  
     (1997-09-11)