Abstract: An appliance support module can be configured to update and upgrade the software incrementally. To achieve this, the appliance support module can be configured to receive a request to update or upgrade a software appliance. The request can include the update or upgrade requested and information describing the software appliance to upgrade or update. Based on the request, the appliance support module can be configured to determine alterations to make to a original binary image of the software appliance to upgrade or update.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method of providing certification. The method includes providing for a software application and applying a set of certification metatags to the software application. The set of certification metatags configured to provide at least one parameter to become certified with the software application. The method also includes querying the set of certification metatags by a second application to determine whether the second application can be certified with the software application.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a method of generating a post-installation configuration for a software application offering. The method includes receiving a request for a post-installation configuration for a software application and determining a software distribution in which the software application will operate. The method also includes determining a set of inter-dependencies between the software application and the software distribution and retrieving a set of templates for post-installation configuration of the software application. The method further includes generating a post-installation configuration file that customizes the software application for operation with the software distribution and packaging the software application into an offering that comprises the post-installation configuration file and the software application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present teachings provide for standardized post installation configuration of a software application. For Linux-based applications, a portal service provides a Red Hat Packet Manager (“RPM”) package that includes selected software to be installed on a user's computing device, and a post install configuration file (“PIC”). A post-install configurator accesses the PIC file and performs post-installation configuration based on the contents of the PIC file. The PIC file thus provides a standardized mechanism in which software vendors can specify post-installation configuration of their applications, without having to develop their own tools or applications.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a user with a post installation configuration file include providing a user with a list of software applications that are available for installation. At least one software application selection from the list of applications is received by the system. At least one post installation configuration script associated with the use selected software application is retrieved, the at least one post installation configuration script using a common user interface for a plurality of software application from the list of software applications. The at least one post installation configuration script associated with the use selected software application and the at least one user selected software application are packaged into a user package.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a user include displaying a status of at least one of an installation and configuration within a first of a plurality of windows. A point of progress of at least one of the installation and configuration is monitored. Knowledgebase information is retrieved related to the point of progress. The knowledgebase information is displayed within a second of the plurality of windows to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration. An instant messaging chat session can be displayed within a third of the plurality of windows to assist a user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.