Patent ID: 8762986

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving information representative of one or more requirements of virtual appliances and one or more resources available to host the virtual appliances; installing, using a download manager, the virtual appliances, the installation configured based on the received information and at least one template, the at least one template defining installation configurations for the virtual appliances and sizing information for the virtual appliances, the installation configurations representative of a small, a medium, and a large enterprise, the sizing information being based on the one or more resources and including at least one of the following: at least one parameter for adjusting the virtual appliances subsequent to installation of the virtual appliances, and at least one dialog instance for adding to the virtual appliances; and initiating a start of the virtual appliances based on a dependency description, the dependency description comprising a sequence for starting the virtual appliances and the at least one template, wherein the sequence for starting the virtual appliances is based on at least one dependency between at least one virtual appliance and at least another virtual appliance.