Computer System Image Clustering Architecture and Use

A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium that stores program instructions executable by a processor of a management server to implement:

• managing a plurality of server computer systems in a distributed system, wherein each server computer system comprises:
• one or more microservers, wherein each microserver is configurable to implement a respective server based on a computer image file, wherein the computer image file comprises a pre-execution environment (PXE) boot image;
• a network interface for connecting to a network;
• and
• a network switch, coupled to the one or more microservers and the network interface, wherein the network switch is configured to switchably connect any of the microservers to the network via the network interface;
• wherein said managing the plurality of server computer systems comprises:
• discovering the distributed system, including discovering:
• the plurality of server computer systems;
• the microservers comprised on the plurality of server computers;
• switching capabilities of the plurality of server computer systems;
• available storage devices of the plurality of server computer systems;
• and
• configuration of the available storage devices;
• and
• providing or designating provision of respective computer image files to the plurality of server computer systems for implementing respective PXE boot images on respective microservers on the plurality of server computer systems;
• wherein, after the respective PXE boot images are implemented on the respective microservers, the plurality of server computer systems are configured to:
• connect to one or more client computers over the network;
• and
• provide computer services to the one or more client computers over the network using a remote desktop protocol.

A server computer, comprising:

• one or more microservers, wherein each microserver comprises:
• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory, coupled to the at least one processor;
• wherein each microserver is configurable to implement a respective server based on a computer image file, wherein the computer image file comprises a pre-execution environment (PXE) boot image;
• a network interface for connecting to a network;
• and
• a network switch, coupled to the one or more microservers and the network interface, wherein the network switch is configured to switchably connect any of the microservers to the network via the network interface;
• wherein the server computer is configured to:
• receive at least one computer image file from a management server computer or a designated computer image file store;
• implement at least one PXE boot image on at least one of the one or more microservers based on the at least one computer image file;
• connect to one or more client computers over the network;
• and
• provide computer services to the one or more client computers over the network using a remote desktop protocol.