Patent ID: 6978379
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use in generating configuration information for a computer system employing hierarchical entities, the apparatus comprising: a policy system for receiving a definition of a high-level policy for the configuration of the computer system and permitted refinements to that policy, the definition referring to a plurality of the entities; an entity memory for storing information about the computer system and its environment including the entities, the hierarchy thereof and non-hierarchical relations between the entities; and a processor coupled to the policy system and the entity memory and operable to produce refinement of the high-level policy definition with reference to the permitted refinements thereto and the stored information about the entities to which the high-level policy definition relates in order to produce a refined policy definition deployable on the computer system, the refinement including adding details to the high-level policy definition.