Open Virtualization Format Specification

The Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Specification describes an open, secure, portable, efficient and extensible format for the packaging and distribution of software to be run in virtual machines. The key properties of the format are as follows: Optimized for distribution - OVF supports content verification and integrity checking based on industry-standard public key infrastructure, and it provides a basic scheme for management of software licensing; Optimized for a simple, automated user experience - OVF supports validation of the entire package and each virtual machine or metadata component of the OVF during the installation phases of the Virtual Machine (VM) lifecycle management process. It also packages with the package relevant user-readable descriptive information that a virtualization platform can use to streamline the installation experience.