Patent ID: 8612974

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a service on a server machine specialized to perform the service, wherein the service comprises operations and functions associated with at least one of a mail server, an LDAP server, an address server, or a credential checking server; assigning the operations and functions of the service to a virtual machine (VM), wherein the VM is dedicated to performing the operations and functions of the service and comprises the service solely associated with the VM and an operating system to operate with the service of the VM; assigning the VM to a first computing machine for hosting by the first computing machine; providing the service on the VM hosted by the first computing machine; determining that the service is to be transferred to another physical machine; assigning the VM to a second computing machine comprising the another physical machine, the VM to be hosted by the second computing machine, wherein assigning the VM to the second computing machine transfers the service to the second computing machine by: copying the operating system and service applications associated with the service to the second computing machine; decoupling the service from the first computing machine, wherein decoupling the service comprises deleting the operating system and service applications associated with the service from the first computing machine; and re-installing the operating system and service applications associated with the service onto the VM on the second computing machine; providing the service on the VM hosted by the second computing machine; utilizing the VM as a template for creation of one or more additional VMs dedicated to performing the operation and functions of the service and only assigned to the service; and deploying the additional VMs on a third computing machine.