User`s guide

Glossary 206
Parallels Desktop. An application that enables you to create, manage, and use virtual machines
on a Windows or Linux computer.
Plain format. A virtual hard disk format. A plain virtual hard disk image file resides on the host
computer and has a fixed size that cannot be changed.
Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). An environment to boot computers using a network
interface independently of available data storage devices (like hard disks) or installed operating
systems.
Primary operating system (primary OS). Operating system that controls the I/O devices of the
computer and that is loaded when the physical computer is turned on. It is the operating system
of the physical computer where the Parallels Desktop application is installed.
Processor. The central processing unit, or CPU. It is an internal part of the computer.
PVS file. A virtual machine configuration file that contains information about the virtual machine
resources, devices and other settings.
Shared networking. Virtual machine network connection mode that allows the virtual machine to
use the host computer network connections. In this mode, the virtual machine is invisible to
other computers on the network the host computer belongs to.
Shortcut. A user-defined key or combination of keys that provides quick access to applications
and commands. See also Hot key.
Snapshot. A copy of the virtual machine state at a particular point of time. The files related to
snapshots are stored in a special subfolder in the virtual machine's folder.
Source computer or source operating system: The computer that you are going to migrate data
from. On physical source computers, Parallels Transporter Agent should be installed.
System disk. A floppy disk that allows your computer to load the operating system.
Split disk. A split disk is cut into 2 GB pieces, but is stored as a single HDD file. Split disks
allow you to transfer the data stored on a split disk piece by piece using a USB drive or other
media that have limited space and cannot store a large virtual hard disk image file.
Terminal. In Mac OS and GNU/Linux operating systems, a utility that enables you to access the
command line.
Virtual hard disk (virtual disk). A file or group of files that emulates the virtual machine's hard
disk.
Virtual machine. The computer emulated using Parallels Desktop. A virtual machine has its own
virtual hardware and requires an operating system to control its hardware. The installed
operating system and its applications are isolated inside the virtual machine and share physical
hardware resources of the host computer.
Third-party virtual machine. A virtual machine created in a third-party virtualization product, that
can be converted to Parallels virtual machines with the help of Parallels Transporter.