Patent ID: 8881136

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for evaluating upgrade scenarios in a networked computing environment, comprising: receiving a selection of an application to be deployed in the networked computing environment; receiving an identification of a planned destination in the networked computing environment for the application, and associated installation criteria, the planned destination being a virtual server that is distinct from a production deployment; provisioning and configuring the planned destination according to the installation criteria; attempting to install the application in the planned destination; determining whether the application installed successfully in the planned destination; identifying, responsive to the application being unsuccessfully installed, a set of potential scenarios for successfully installing the application; evaluating each of the set of potential scenarios to identify an optimal scenario for installing the application; implementing the optimal scenario; and in response to the application being successfully installed according to the optimal scenario, provisioning and deploying the application for use as the production deployment on the optimal system based on preferences of an end user.