System and method for a hierarchical database management system for educational training and competency testing simulations

A method for providing data in a simulated computer environment, the method comprising:

• executing a simulator comprising object-oriented database code programmed to retrieve data from a database for populating simulated components to simulate the computer environment;
• requesting a record from the database by using dot notation in object-oriented code of the simulator to reference an object of the database code;
• servicing the request for the record using a method defined for the referenced object of the database code;
• and
• generating a simulated component from the record, the simulated component being used by the simulator to simulate the simulated computer environment.

A method for populating a database used to define simulated components in a simulated computer environment, the method comprising:

• receiving a user-initiated request on a source computer system to automatically populate a database with records defining simulated components;
• in response to the user-initiated request, automatically collecting configuration information for actual components of a target computer system in communication with the source computer system and automatically generating records to define simulated components which substantially correspond to actual components defined by the configuration information;
• and
• storing the generated records in the database.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing data in a simulated computer environment, wherein the instructions comprise executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:

• executing a simulator comprising object-oriented database code programmed to retrieve data from a database for populating simulated components to simulate the computer environment;
• requesting a record from the database by using dot notation in object-oriented code of the simulator to reference an object of the database code;
• servicing the request for the record using a method defined for the referenced object of the database code;
• generating a simulated component from the record, the simulated component being used by the simulator to simulate the simulated computer environment.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for populating a database used to define simulated components in a simulated computer environment, wherein the instructions comprise executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:

• receiving a user-initiated request on a source computer system to automatically populate a database with records defining simulated components;
• in response to the user-initiated request, automatically collecting configuration information for actual components of a target computer system in communication with the source computer system and automatically generating records to define simulated components which substantially correspond to actual components defined by the configuration information;
• and
• storing the generated records in the database.