Patent ID: 7765379

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for installing a plurality of logical partitions on a computer apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: (A) a user invoking a firmware-based logical partition configuration mechanism to define the plurality of logical partitions before installation of any operating system on the computer apparatus, wherein the defining of the plurality of logical partitions comprises the steps of: (A1) a user defining the plurality of logical partitions by selecting at least one installable bootable resource for each logical partition from a list of installable bootable resources on the computer apparatus; and (A2) the user defining a map between installable bootable resources in each logical partition and corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses; (B) installing in parallel the plurality of logical partitions by performing the steps of: (B1) defining a virtual local area network (VLAN); and (B2) the VLAN routing a plurality of network packets to corresponding installable bootable resources within the plurality of logical partitions; and (C) after steps (A) and (B) are complete, installing an operating system in each logical partition.