Virtual solution composition and deployment system and method

A method, on an information processing system, for creating a virtual part used for composing a virtual solution, the method comprising:

• receiving a user's selection of at least one virtual image;
• associating a set of configurability points with the virtual image;
• setting a set of parameters of a virtual part as configurable during virtual solution composition, wherein virtual solution composition comprises associating at least a first virtual part to operate with at least a second virtual part;
• generating a set of virtual ports, wherein each virtual port within the set of virtual ports indicates at least one of a set of virtual parts required by a virtual part comprising the set of virtual ports and a set of virtual parts that are compatible with the virtual part;
• receiving a set of configuration operations, wherein the set of configuration operations are adapted to reconfigure the virtual image based on at least one of a virtual part associated with the virtual part comprising the set of configuration operations and an operating environment associated with the virtual part comprising the configuration operations;
• and
• generating a virtual part comprising at least the virtual image, the set of configurability points, the set of virtual ports, and the configuration operations.

A method, with an information processing system, for composing a virtual solution, the method comprising:

• receiving a user's selection of a first virtual part and at least a second virtual part, wherein a virtual part comprises at least:
• a virtual image comprising a set of software components,
• a set of configurability points, wherein each configurability point within the set of configurability points defines at least one parameter of the virtual part comprising the set of configurability points that is configurable,
• a set of virtual ports, wherein each virtual port within the set of virtual ports indicates at least one of a set of virtual parts required by the virtual part comprising the set of virtual ports and a set of virtual parts that are compatible with the virtual part, and
• a set of configuration operations adapted to reconfigure the virtual image;
• prompting, in response to receiving the user's selection, for a set of parameter values for at least one of the first and second virtual parts based on the set of configurability points;
• receiving the set of parameter values from at least one of
• the user, and
• the other one of the first virtual part and the second virtual part;
• reconfiguring the virtual image within the at least one of the first and second virtual parts based on the received set of parameter values and the set of configuration operations;
• and
• generating, in response to reconfiguring the virtual image, a virtual solution model comprising the first virtual part, the second virtual part, and the virtual image that has been reconfigured.

A system for composing virtual solutions, comprising:

• memory for storing at least one virtual image, a first virtual part, and at least a second virtual part;
• a processor, communicatively couple with the memory;
• and
• a user interface, communicatively coupled with the processor and the memory, for displaying information to a user and for receiving user input from the user, the processor being adapted to:
• receiving a user's selection of a first virtual part and at least a second virtual part, wherein a virtual part comprises at least:
• a virtual image comprising a set of software components,
• a set of configurability points, wherein each configurability point within the set of configurability points defines at least one parameter of the virtual part comprising the set of configurability points that is configurable,
• a set of virtual ports, wherein each virtual port within the set of virtual ports indicates at least one of a set of virtual parts required by the virtual part comprising the set of virtual ports and a set of virtual parts that are compatible with the virtual part, and
• a set of configuration operations adapted to reconfigure the virtual image;
• prompting, in response to receiving the user's selection, for a set of parameter values for at least one of the first and second virtual parts based on the set of configurability points;
• receiving the set of parameter values;
• reconfiguring the virtual image within the at least one of the first and second virtual parts based on the received set of parameter values and the set of configuration operations;
• and
• generating, in response to reconfiguring the virtual image, a virtual solution model comprising the first virtual part, the second virtual part, and the virtual image that has been reconfigured.