Virtual machine image migration

An apparatus for virtual machine image migration, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to receive files of at least one image of at least one virtual machine from a first environment;
• computer readable program code configured to identify points of variability within the files, with respect to preparation for functioning in a second environment;
• computer readable program code configured to associate each point of variability with corresponding metadata;
• computer readable program code configured to store each point of variability with its corresponding metadata;
• computer readable program code configured to reconfigure the at least one image to function in a second environment, the reconfiguring including adjusting the points of variability via using the metadata;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to deploy the reconfigured image to the second environment.

A computer program product for virtual machine image migration, said computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to receive files of at least one image of at least one virtual machine from a first environment;
• computer readable program code configured to identify points of variability within the files, with respect to preparation for functioning in a second environment;
• computer readable program code configured to associate each point of variability with corresponding metadata;
• computer readable program code configured to store each point of variability with its corresponding metadata;
• computer readable program code configured to reconfigure the at least one image to function in a second environment, the reconfiguring including adjusting the points of variability via using the metadata;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to deploy the reconfigured image to the second environment.

A method comprising:

• receiving files of at least one image of at least one virtual machine from a first environment;
• identifying points of variability within the files, with respect to preparation for functioning in a second environment;
• associating each point of variability with corresponding metadata;
• storing each point of variability with its corresponding metadata;
• reconfiguring the at least one image to function in the second environment, said reconfiguring comprising adjusting the points of variability via using the metadata;
• and
• subsequently employing the metadata again in migrating the at least one image to a third environment.