What does 'Bare Metal' mean?

A bare metal system is a computer that does not include an operating system or any other software, so the user must install an operating system in order to use the hardware.

Installing an operating system on a bare metal machine involves creating a bootable installation media, such as a USB drive or DVD, and booting the system from that media. The user then follows the prompts to install the operating system and any necessary drivers and software.

Usually, a computer shipped from a manufacturer is in a bare metal state, which means that it does not include an operating system or other software. But the computer does include the essential hardware components that are necessary for it to function, such as processors, motherboards, hard disks, and network cards.

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The term “bare metal” is commonly used to refer to custom-built PCs and barebones systems, which are computers that include the basic hardware components but do not include any software.

Barebones systems are generally used by users who want to build their own custom machine and want to choose their own operating system and other programs. They can purchase a barebones computer and then add their own choice of operating system, applications, and other software to the system.

Custom-built PCs and barebones systems are often preferred by PC enthusiasts and users who want to have control over the hardware and software components of their computer systems.

Additionally, barebones systems and custom-built PCs can be more cost-effective than pre-built systems, as users can choose components that are appropriate for their needs and budget, rather than paying for unnecessary or excess features.