Patent ID: 7681179

Claim:
One or more computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions that administers an application comprising: defining an application identifier; locating one or more resources associated with the application to record in a manifest of the associated resources, the resources including data structures, configuration settings, files, directories, directory substructures, pointers, identifiers to other resources, or others; combining the one or more resources and application identifier into an application image that includes a service level agreement to manage the application image performance; extending the application image by subsequently combining a new application resource with the existing application image, the new application resource adding a new utility to the application and is managed under the existing application image; nesting a separate application image within the existing application image; and associating a monitoring component with the existing application image, wherein the monitoring component provides an enumerated display of the resources that includes at least one of a flat display, or hierarchical display of the resources, or any combination thereof.