open virtualization format (DMTF) (OVF)

The Open Virtualization Format (OVF) was developed by the Distributed Management Task Force(DMTF) and describes an open, portable, and extensible file format for packaging and distributing virtual machine software.

The Open Virtualization Format enables virtual appliances to be deployed across different virtualization solutions.

The Open Virtualization Format is a standardized format that is used to ensure interoperability and portability ofInfrastructure-as-a-Service( IaaS), such as in virtual machines for describing storage disks and for configuring virtual resources, in Distributed Virtual Switching( DVS), for formatting software modules, for distributing security software for virtual machines and for increasing the mobility of virtual machines.