The Open Virtualization Format (OVF) is an open-standard, platform-independent, and extensible file format used to package and distribute virtual machines (VMs) and software appliances. OVF enables portability, allowing VMs to move between different virtualization platforms like VMware, VirtualBox, and cloud environments. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Usage Examples and Applications
- Virtual Appliance Distribution: Software vendors package applications (OS, apps, configuration) as OVF to ensure easy deployment on any virtualization platform.
- Cross-Platform Migration: Moving a VM from VMware ESXi to Oracle VM VirtualBox or Google Compute Engine.
- Template Export/Import: Exporting a configured VM as an OVF template for rapid deployment of identical VMs.
- Standardized Cloud Deployment: Facilitating the transfer of VMs between different cloud service providers. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6]
Components and Synonyms
- OVF Package: A directory containing an (XML metadata), (disk images), and (manifest) files.
- OVA (Open Virtual Appliance): A common synonym/related format, which is a single archive of all OVF files, making it easier to distribute than a directory of files.
- Key Features: It is secure, validating integrity via PKI, and supports complex, multi-tiered application environments. [3, 6, 7, 8, 9]
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