Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying and managing virtual machine clusters. A method commences upon launching, on a subject processor instance that is running a first operating system, an installation hypervisor that forms a RAM disk comprising an installation boot image and respective one or more scripts. A bootable portion of the RAM disk is exposed to a virtual machine so as to serve as a virtual boot device that comprises the installation boot image and its one or more scripts. Next, a physical boot device is exposed to the virtual machine so as to initiate a boot operation that causes the virtual machine to boot. A subsequent boot operation is initiated to cause transfer of instruction execution to a low-level I/O subsystem entry point such that the target boot image is booted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a client machine executing a first software module for managing host machines, the client machine being installed with a software application and including a proxy module. The system also includes multiple host machines, each of the host machines executing a second software module for communicating with the first software module, wherein at least one of the host machines is running a service for managing one or more host machines. The client machine may manage the host machines by causing the first software module to send a request for information to the multiple host machines, receiving responses from the host machines, sending a request formatted with an IPv4 address using the software application, and causing the proxy module to intercept the request formatted with the IPv4 address and send instructions using an IPv6 link local address to a selected one of the host machines.