Patent ID: 8375387

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: installing a virtualization tool, a provisioning tool, and a configuration tool, in a distributable self-contained repository of a physical machine; and installing a configuration management tool in the distributable self-contained repository, wherein the configuration management tool is to: automate a deployment process of software to operate on the physical machine; interface with each of the virtualization tool, the provisioning tool, and the configuration tool; and assign one or more tasks to each of the virtualization tool, the provisioning tool, and the configuration tool, wherein the one or more tasks configured to, when executed by the corresponding tools, implement the deployment process for the physical machine by: executing a bootstrapping process to obtain parameters for the physical machine; building one or more virtual machines on the physical machine according to the obtained parameters; loading and customizing software on the one or more virtual machines according to the obtained parameters; deploying system configurations to the one or more virtual machines according to the obtained parameters; and managing a source code of the one or more virtual machines; wherein each of the virtualization tool, the provisioning tool, and the configuration tool interact directly with the configuration management tool and not any component of the physical machine that provides a functionality directed by the virtualization tool, the provisioning tool, or the configuration tool in the deployment process.