[PDF] Parallels Server 5 Bare Metal

Virtual Machine Files
Learning Parallels Server 5 Bare Metal Basics
A virtual machine has at least two files: a configuration file (PVS file) and a hard disk image file (HDD
file). It can also have additional files: a file for each additional virtual hard disk and output files for
virtual ports. By default, the virtual machines files are stored in the /var/parallels directory on
the Parallels server.
The list of files related to a virtual machine is given in the table below:
File Name Description
.pvm A bundle that contains the virtual machine files.
.pvs A virtual machine configuration file. It defines the hardware and resources
configuration of the virtual machine. The configuration file is automatically
generated during the virtual machine creation.
.sav A dump file created when you suspend the virtual machine. This file contains the
state of the virtual machine and its applications at the moment the suspend was
invoked.
.mem A file containing the memory dump for the suspended virtual machine. For a
running virtual machine, it is a temporary virtual memory file.
.hdd A file representing a virtual hard disk. When you create a virtual machine, you can
create it with a new virtual hard disk or use an existing one. A virtual machine can
have several hard disks.
.iso An image file of a CD or DVD disc. Virtual machines treat ISO images as real
CD/DVD discs.
.txt Output files for serial and parallel ports. The output .txt files are generated when
a serial or parallel port connected to an output file is added to the virtual machine
configuration.
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