Patent ID: 8370835
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for dynamically generating a configuration for a virtual machine, the method comprising: (a) providing a computer running a host operating system, with a plurality of storage devices attached to said computer; (b) providing a first internal storage device out of said plurality of storage devices, said first internal storage device containing a file system; (c) providing a second external storage device out of said plurality of storage devices, said second external storage device storing a virtual hard disk containing an installed guest operating system; (d) providing a virtual machine monitor installed on said computer, said virtual machine monitor supporting copy-on-write behavior for said virtual hard disk; (e) providing a configuration template comprising configuration settings that are stored in a format supported by said virtual machine monitor; and (f) providing a plurality of instructions to be executed on said computer after said second external storage device has been connected to said computer, wherein the instructions to perform the method comprising: wherein said virtual machine with said copy-on-write behavior redirects write operations of said guest operating system to said virtual hard disk overlay file in said directory on said first internal storage device.