PVM File – What is .pvm file and how to open it?

Parallels Virtual Machine File (PVM)

A PVM file is a file format used by Parallels Desktop, a virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single computer. PVM files contain virtual machines, including the installed operating system, applications, and data, making it a portable solution for running virtual environments across different devices. These files are typically used to create, save, and manage virtual environments within the Parallels Desktop environment.

PVM files have several advantages, including the ability to simulate various hardware configurations, optimizing performance for specific operating systems and applications. Furthermore, they allow for the easy migration of virtual machines between hosts, ensuring seamless portability and flexibility in a multi-platform environment. Users can create and configure multiple PVM files to accommodate different operating systems and software requirements, providing flexibility and convenience in managing virtual environments.

Using Parallels Desktop:

To open a PVM file, you will need the Parallels Desktop application, available for both macOS and Windows. Once installed, follow these steps:

• Launch Parallels Desktop.
• Click on “File” and select “Open.”
• Navigate to the location of the PVM file and select it.
• Click on “Open.”

Parallels Desktop will launch the virtual machine associated with the PVM file, allowing you to access the operating system and applications running within it.

Using Other Software:

If you do not have Parallels Desktop, there are a few free and open-source alternatives that support opening PVM files. Here are some options:

• VirtualBox: A popular virtualization software that can open PVM files, as well as VMDK, VHD, and other virtual disk formats.
• QEMU: An open-source virtualization solution that provides support for various hardware architectures and file formats, including PVM.
• CloudConvert: An online file conversion service that can convert PVM files to other virtual machine formats, such as VMDK, VHDX, and QCOW2.

PVM Format

A PVM file is a virtual machine disk file used by Parallels, a software solution that allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single computer. The PVM file stores the virtual disk image, which contains data such as the operating system, applications, and files. This file is essential for creating and running virtual machines in Parallels.

Technical Details

The PVM file format is based on the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) standard, which enables the import and export of virtual machines across different virtualization platforms. PVM files are compressed using the ZLIB algorithm, which reduces their size and facilitates faster transfer and storage. The file structure includes a header that stores metadata such as the virtual machine name, disk size, and creation date, followed by the compressed disk image data. PVM files are typically large in size, ranging from hundreds of megabytes to several gigabytes, depending on the size of the virtual disk image.

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