

This allows any virtualization platform that implements the standard to correctly install and run the virtual machines.Īs described in the specification Introduction, OVF supports content verification and integrity checking based on industry standard public key infrastructure, and provides a basic scheme for management of software licensing. The proposed OVF uses existing packaging tools to combine one or more virtual machines together with a standards-based XML wrapper, giving the virtualization platform a portable package containing all required installation and configuration parameters for the virtual machines. Finally, OVF allows an installed VM to acquire information about its host virtualization platform and run-time environment, which allows the VM to localize the applications it contains and optimize its performance for the particular virtualization environment." OVF also provides mechanisms that support license checking for the enclosed VMs, addressing a key concern of both independent software vendors (ISVs) and customers. This enhances the security of the format and will alleviate security concerns of users who adopt virtual appliances produced by third parties. Most importantly, according to the DMTF announcement: "OVF specifies procedures and technologies to permit integrity checking of the virtual machines (VM) to ensure that they have not been modified since the package was produced.

Its goal is to facilitate the automated, secure management not only of virtual machines, but the appliance as a functional unit. The OVF specification describes an open, secure, portable, efficient and extensible format for the packaging and distribution of (collections of) virtual machines. Dell, HP, IBM, Microsoft, VMware, and XenSource have submitted the Open Virtual Machine Format Specification (OVF) to the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) for further development into an industry standard. See Open Virtualization Format Specification version 1.0.0b.
HOW TO USE VIRTUALBOX MACHINE XML UPDATE
Update : DMTF announced the availability of the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Draft Specification (DSP0243) as a Work In Progress. Update : "Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Version 1.0 Published as a DMTF Standard." About the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).
