Patent ID: 7792941

Claim:
A computer implemented method for defining a compatibility policy for a workload partition instance in a managed server, the computer implemented method comprising: responsive to receiving, from a managed server, an inventory of properties of the managed server which are relevant for compatibility testing, defining mandatory properties and optional properties available for use in a compatibility policy for a workload partition instance running on the managed server; selecting mandatory compatibility tests based on the mandatory properties in the compatibility policy for the workload partition instance; selecting optional compatibility tests based on the optional properties in the compatibility policy for the workload partition instance; and associating the selected mandatory compatibility tests and selected optional compatibility tests for the workload partition instance with the compatibility policy, wherein the selected mandatory compatibility tests and selected optional compatibility tests are executed to compare a profile of a potential target system with the workload partition instance and to determine compatibility of the potential target system with the workload partition instance prior to performing a mobility operation of the workload partition instance.