Modular imaging download system

An apparatus for automated configuration of software program images on a computer, comprising:

• an action tree layer having a plurality of actions which may be dynamically linked executed during automated software installation;
• at least one action tree having a plurality of nodes each of which contain at least one pointer to an action from said action tree layer;
• a management layer configured for executing actions during traversal of said action tree;
• and
• a user interface configured for controlling the operations of said management layer for the desired automated installation being performed.

A method of configuring computers with software program images, comprising:

• creating and compiling a set of separately executable actions for performing image configuration actions on a computer;
• creating and compiling a management layer which executes actions defined within a selected action tree;
• creating and compiling a user interface layer which controls action tree selection and progress through the action tree;
• creating an action tree structure having a plurality of nodes which include pointers to actions and to other nodes in said action tree;
• and
• linking the actions, management layer, user interface and action tree into a program which executes actions defined in the action tree according to user input.