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Understanding Virtual Machine Configuration

Each virtual machine hardware configuration is defined by a special Parallels Workstation configuration file having the .pvs extension. It contains all of the information about virtual devices attached to the virtual machine and files connected to it. In genera,l two files make up a virtual machine, a configuration file and a hard disk image file (several virtual hard disks can be attached). Other files may not be attached.

The following table explains all file types that may be related to a virtual machine:

.pvs

This is a virtual machine configuration file. One configuration file defines one virtual machine.

One instance of Parallels Workstation can run only one opened configuration file, i.e. only one virtual machine. To run several virtual machines, you should launch several instances of Parallels Workstation. Typical configuration file can be easily generated using the New Virtual Machine Wizard.

.sav

This is a virtual machine saved state file. This file is created when you suspend a virtual machine and contains the state of the guest OS and its applications in the moment when suspend was invoked.

See the Suspending/Resuming Virtual Machine for more information.

.hdd

This is a virtual hard disk of a Parallels Workstation virtual machine.

When you create a new virtual machine, the New VM wizard prompts you to place a new virtual hard disk and .pvs configuration file into the same directory, however you may store these files in different folders. You may also attach an existing virtual hard disks to different virtual machines.

More information about virtual hard disks can be found in the Hard Disk Images topic.

.iso

This is a CD or DVD-ROM image file. .iso image files are treated by an operating system as real CD/DVD discs.

More information about .iso images is given in the CD/DVD Real Discs and Images topic.

.fdd

This is floppy disk image file created by Parallels Workstation. .fdd image files are treated by an operating system as a real floppy disks.

More information about .fdd images is given in the Floppy Disks and Disk Images topic.

.txt

Serial and parallel ports can be emulated via output .txt files. See Serial Port Options and Parallel Port Options.