Software appliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A software appliance is a software application combined with a tailored operating system that readily installs on industry standard hardware (typically a server) or in a virtual machine. Software appliances simplify server applications by eliminating the hassles of installation, configuration and maintenance.
The customer receives all service and maintenance from the application vendor, eliminating the requirement to manage multiple maintenance streams, licenses, and service contracts. The software appliance is typically sold as a subscription service (pay-as-you-go) and is an alternative approach to Software as a Service.
In some cases, the application vendor may install the software appliance on a piece of hardware prior to delivery to the customer, thereby creating a hardware appliance solution. In both cases, the primary value to the customer remains the simplicity of purchase, deployment, and maintenance.
A software appliance can be packaged in a virtual machine format as a virtual appliance, allowing it to be run within a virtual machine container.
