User`s guide

Glossary 204
This glossary defines terms and spells out abbreviations used in Parallels Desktop
documentation. References to terms defined elsewhere in the glossary appear in italics.
Administrator. A user with administration privileges.
Activation key. A unique set of symbols that activates the Parallels Desktop application on the
host computer and lets you use the Parallels Desktop functionality to its full extent.
Active operating system. The operating system where Parallels Transporter Agent is launched.
Active volume: The volume of the physical source computer that is used as a boot volume for the
active operating system.
Bootable hard disk. A disk used by the operating system to boot from, usually a disk that has an
operating system installed.
Boot Volume. A hard disk partition from which the operating system boots.
Boot Camp partition. A partition on the hard disk of the host computer that can be used for
installing a Windows operating system on it (for Mac host computers only).
Bridged networking. Virtual machine network connection mode that enables the virtual machine
to appear as any other computer on the network, with it own IP address and network name.
Configuration file. A file specifies the virtual machine's hardware configuration, the devices it
uses, and other settings. It is created automatically when you create a new virtual machine. See
also PVS file.
CPU. Stands for central processing unit. It is an internal part of the computer. See also
Processor.
Disks in the old format. Disks of virtual machines that were created in Parallels Desktop 2.5 and
earlier or Parallels Workstation 2.2.
Disks in the new format. Disks of virtual machines that were created or used in Parallels
hardware virtualization products starting from version 3.0.
Expanding format. A virtual hard disk format. An expanding virtual hard disk image file resides
on your host computer and is small initially. Its size grows as you add applications and data to
the virtual machine.
FireWire connection. A wired connection that enables a high-speed data transmission between
computers.
Guest operating system (guest OS). An operating system installed inside your virtual machine.
Glossary