Providing a layered image using a hierarchical tree

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processing device of a first machine, operatively coupled with the memory, to:
• maintain a hierarchical tree of nodes for a plurality of layered images, the hierarchical tree having a plurality of paths that each include a plurality of nodes representing layered images for a virtual machine, the plurality of nodes of a path comprising a root node, intermediary nodes representing layered images of intermediary components, and child nodes representing layered images of child components;
• receive, from a second machine, a request indicating a child component;
• identify, in the plurality of paths, a subset of paths that each comprise a child node representing the child component, one or more intermediary nodes representing layered images of intermediary components on which the child component depends, and the root node;
• select, from the identified subset of paths, a path with fewer nodes representing layered images that are not present in a storage of the second machine;
• and
• provide the layered images that are not present in the storage of the second machine to instantiate a corresponding virtual machine to execute the child component of the request.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

• maintain, by the processing device of a first machine, a hierarchical tree of nodes for a plurality of layered images, the hierarchical tree having a plurality of paths that each include a plurality of nodes representing layered images for a virtual machine, the plurality of nodes comprising a root node, intermediary nodes representing layered images of intermediary components, and child nodes representing layered images of child components;
• receive, from a second machine, a request indicating a child component;
• identify, in the plurality of paths, a path comprising a child node representing the child component, one or more intermediary nodes representing layered images of intermediary components associated with the child component, and the root node;
• select, from the identified path, one or more nodes representing layered images that are not present in a storage of the second machine;
• and
• provide the layered images corresponding to the selected one or more nodes to instantiate a corresponding virtual machine with the child component.