User`s guide

Parallels Server 4 Bare Metal Basics 20
Virtual Machine Files
A virtual machine has at least two files: a configuration file (PVS file) and a hard disk image file
(HDD file). It can also have additional files: a file for each additional virtual hard disk and
output files for virtual ports. By default, the virtual machines files are stored in the
/var/parallels directory on the Parallels server.
The list of files related to a virtual machine is given in the table below:
File Name Description
.pvm
A bundle that contains the virtual machine files.
.pvs
A virtual machine configuration file. It defines the hardware and resources
configuration of the virtual machine. The configuration file is automatically
generated during the virtual machine creation.
.sav
A dump file created when you suspend the virtual machine. This file contains
the state of the virtual machine and its applications at the moment the suspend
was invoked.
.mem
A file containing the memory dump for the suspended virtual machine. For a
running virtual machine, it is a temporary virtual memory file.
.hdd
A file representing a virtual hard disk. When you create a virtual machine, you
can create it with a new virtual hard disk or use an existing one. A virtual
machine can have several hard disks.
.iso
An image file of a CD or DVD disc. Virtual machines treat ISO images as real
CD/DVD discs.
.txt
Output files for serial and parallel ports. The output .txt files are generated
when a serial or parallel port connected to an output file is added to the virtual
machine configuration.