Software appliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A software appliance combines a software application and a streamlined version of system software (OS, file system, application server, etc.) that readily installs on industry standard hardware (typically a server). 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 can be classified as a form of 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.
Alternatively, 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.
