Parallels Workstation 2.2, 10-24u, IT, MNT WWL2XM-02-IT User Manual

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 (page 59). 

.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 (page 154) 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
(page 100) 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 (page 102) 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 (page 102) topic.   

.txt

 

Serial and parallel ports can be emulated via output .txt files. See Serial Port 
Options (on page 122) and Parallel Port Options (on page 124).