Abstract: Deployment of an application is managed using available resources from a resource system. A resource dependency characterization of the application is established to enable deployment of the application. A logical characterization and a network characterization of a desired deployment are also established. A deployment plan containing an outline for resources and configurations used for deployment is developed based on the resource dependency characterization, the logical characterization and the network characterization. The deployment plan is processed for correlation with the available resources. The processed deployment plan is then implemented.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for enhancing software catalog manageability, providing abstract software configuration, and desired state management. A first mechanism is provided for enhancing software catalog manageability. The first mechanism includes a software model that separates metadata of software from actual binaries of the software. A second mechanism is provided for abstracting software configuration for automation. The second mechanism includes a hierarchical software resource template structure that specifies parameters, dependencies between parameters, features, options, and parameters that cannot be predefined. The template is consumed by user defined workflows to create actual software resources during deployment. A third mechanism is provided for desired state management and patch compliance assessments.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of applications in automated data centers using an application deployment template. A first mechanism is provided to deploy multiple instances of applications using an application deployment plan template. The first mechanism uses deployment parameter sets to generate corresponding deployment plans based on the deployment template. A second mechanism is provided to instantiate multiple instances of applications using deployment plan templates. A service catalog that is exposed to consumers for selection of catalog items is built on top of the second mechanism. During the cataloging and order fulfillment process, the second mechanism instantiates multiple instances of applications using the generated deployment plans and an application model to deploy multiple application instances. An existing order may also be modified or terminated responsive to a user request or service term expiration.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for providing alternative installation structures for deployment of software applications. A set of requirements for software modules to be deployed are detected. Based on the hosting requirement, the present invention determines a set of candidate software modules by comparing the hosting requirements to capabilities of software modules in a software registry. Non-hosting requirements are cascaded for validation at a corresponding level. The present invention exposes software modules based on their supported requirement types and filters candidate hosting software modules based on options defined in the non-hosting requirements. Finally, a list of options with a list of candidate software modules is presented for user selection.