database machine

A computer or special hardware that stores and retrieves data

from a database. It is specially designed for database

access and is coupled to the main (front-end) computer(s) by

a high-speed channel. This contrasts with a databaseserver, which is a computer in a local area network that

holds a database. The database machine is tightly coupled to

the main CPU, whereas the database server is loosely coupled

via the network.