Abstract: A computer-based method sets up automatically a computer system configuration in association with a computer system upgrade process. In accordance with the system configuration, the upgrade process installs a required set of operative elements in order to provide for the reliable operation of the computer system. The operatively correct combination of hardware, system and application software components is accomplished by inter-component dependency checking and conflict resolving procedures utilizing specific inter-component dependency rules tables and component definition and inter-component relationship definition databases.