Patent ID: 8234650

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for allocating devices to an apparatus, comprising: receiving a textual representation of a logical configuration of the apparatus that includes a plurality of physical devices, wherein the textual representation is based on a structured markup language; and determining, based on the textual representation, a plurality of logical devices to be included in said apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of logical devices comprises a logical representation of one of the plurality of physical devices; determining whether each physical device of the plurality of physical devices is available, wherein each physical device corresponds to at least one of the plurality of logical devices; and allocating each physical device to the apparatus when the physical device is available; upon allocating each physical device to the apparatus when the physical device is available, instantiating the apparatus, by: generating at least one command for at least one switch device that is not included in the plurality of physical devices, wherein the at least one switch device is interconnected to at least one computing element of the plurality of physical devices and at least one storage device of the plurality of physical devices, and wherein the at least one command instructs the at least one switch device to logically connect the at least one computing element and the at least one storage device into an operable system that conforms to the logical configuration.