Patent ID: 7577722
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a virtualized computer system comprising: storing a plurality of pre-configured model virtual machines (VMs) having different hardware and software configurations, wherein each of the model VMs have at least one model virtual machine identifier; creating a set of staged VMs from the model VMs by, for each of the model VMs, include software to configure operation system parameters to establish a connection to a server comprising additional data needed to provision staged VMs onto physical host platforms and strip an identity, wherein stripping the identity comprises removing the at least one model virtual machine identifier; inputting from a requester, information to determine an appropriate staged VM and a desired computer configuration to host the staged VM, wherein the inputting includes validating the information for correctness and consistency and suggesting changes if the staged VM cannot be implemented in the desired computer configuration; determining and selecting the appropriate staged VM from the set of staged VMs, the staged VM being most closely incorporating a configuration that is requested via the information; monitoring a status of a plurality of hosts platforms and heuristically selecting a compatible physical host platform from the plurality of the host platforms that is compatible with the desired computer configuration and best suited for hosting the staged VM; and automatically deploying a deployed VM onto the compatible physical host platform by copying the staged VM to the compatible physical host platform, the deployed VM thereby obtaining a new identity by obtaining at least one new identifier different from the at least one model virtual machine identifier that identified the staged VM, wherein the automatically deploying includes installing an additional application in the deployed VM if the additional application is being requested via the information and the additional application is not pre-installed in the staged VM.