What is a key feature of the OVF file format?

The OVF (Open Virtualization Format) file format is indeed an open standard for packaging and distributing virtual appliances or virtual machines. Developed to facilitate interoperability between various virtualization solutions, this standard allows different virtualization platforms to import and export virtual machines without being tied to a specific vendor's proprietary system.

Being an open standard means that OVF files can be used across various virtualization platforms, providing flexibility and ease of deployment in diverse IT environments. This characteristic enhances the ecosystem by promoting compatibility and reducing vendor lock-in for users, allowing them to integrate and manage virtual machines across different platforms.

The other potential characteristics mentioned do not apply to the OVF format since it is not exclusive to VMware products, not a proprietary format, and while it can facilitate improved operating system compatibility through its structured definition of virtual machine configurations, that is not its defining feature. The essence of OVF lies in its role as an open standard that enables interoperability in virtualization.