Model-based virtual system provisioning

One or more computer readable storage media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

• access a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system wherein the virtual machine is created on a computing device to provide virtualized components of the system;
• access a model of the system;
• and
• generate an installation specification for the workload, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the system;
• and
• install an application and operating system on the virtual machine;
• wherein the installation specification includes information identifying how to install the workload, including:
• (1) settings for the virtual machine to be created on the computing device, (2) the operating system to install on the virtual machine, including settings of the operating system and identification of files to be copied to the virtual machine for installing the operating system;
• (3) settings of the computing device to be made or changed;
• (4) an identification of files to be copied to the computing device and where those files are to be copied;
• (5) an order in which files are to be copied and/or settings made or changed;
• and (6) any initialization programs to be run after the files have been copied and/or settings made or changed.

A computing device comprising:

• a processor and a memory, coupled to the processor, storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• access a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system;
• access a model of the system;
• and
• generate an installation specification for the workload, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the system;
• and
• install an application and operating system on the virtual machine;
• wherein the workload includes the application and operating system installed on the virtual machine, wherein the installation specification identifies an image file of the workload that is to be copied to a storage device of the system, and wherein the installation specification includes an indication to migrate another virtual machine from one computing device to another computing device;
• and
• wherein the installation specification further includes information identifying how to install the workload, including:
• (1) settings for the virtual machine to be created on the computing device, (2) the operating system to install on the virtual machine, including settings of the operating system and identification of files to be copied to the virtual machine for installing the operating system;
• (3) settings of the computing device to be made or changed;
• (4) an identification of files to be copied to the computing device and where those files are to be copied;
• (5) an order in which files are to be copied and/or settings made or changed;
• and (6) any initialization programs to be run after the files have been copied and/or settings made or changed.