OVF – Open Virtual Machine Format
Citrix is now open to the standard format of Virtual Machines, which means that now a virtual machine is like a series of settings that exported to VMware ESX or Citrix XenServer or Microsoft Hyper-V will be the same thing, just use the appropriate conversion tool and the game (format migration) is done.
OVF according to VMware
VMware released a few months ago a graphical tool on java platform version 0.9-62566.
While now it is possible to download here a version 1.0, which works from the command line and requires the preinstallation of C++ libraries under windows.
The format is supported by VirtualCenter 2.5, the ESX3 hypervisors, the client VI allows import and export via VI API and finally the Converter 3.03 allows you to import and export OVF formats.
It seems that one of the big benefits of this Open format is the physical space, the OVF optimizes the virtual appliance for High performance in the production system and greatly optimizes the occupation of the physical space of the VMDK disk.
OVF according to Citrix
Citrix releases on the 14th a graphical tool, the Kensho project, which also allows good interoperability with the Hyper-V world
The documentation is a little more extensive and also provided with videos and can be found at the following link
http://community.citrix.com/display/xs/Kensho
The tool only works on Windows XP or Windows 2003 and Vista
It allows you to import and export from XenServer version 4.1 and higher and also from Windows 2008 servers with Hyper-V installed, it requires a Windows Server UNC based (SMB) share to work to import and export Virtual Appliances.
Requires the .Net 3.5 framework, PowerShell 1.0, and WinRM (win Remote management) on the client.
On the XenServer, it requires the Xen-CIM Interface (CIM – Common Information Model) installed.
Wasn’t a simple command-line tool without too many requirements just not possible?
To download the tool, you need to register on the Citrix.com portal
All the ultra-technical and specialized documentation on the standard can be downloaded and read on the www.dmtf.org portal (Distributed Management Task Force, Inc) at the following link:
http://www.dmtf.org/standards/mgmt/vman/
The fundamental objective of this standard, in addition to the greater performance (to be evaluated) is the interchangeability of virtual appliances between the various hypervisor worlds, this will allow the possibility of creating a sort of database of applications and will also be able to validate the new logic of the life cycles of virtual appliances (Lifecycle Management), the producer of software, of applied software solutions, I will be able to develop my virtual appliance and also manage its life cycle, simply, without having to prefer the VMware format over the others, many already allow you to download their solutions in various formats, so as not to space probable customers to complex installations to test the product.
