Abstract: Managing virtual infrastructure with self-initialized upgrades, such as upgrades or configuration changes, includes receiving, by a first virtual machine (VM) that provides a management function for a plurality of VMs, an indication of a pending configuration change. The first VM identifies, from within the plurality of VMs, a VM having a property which is associated with the first VM. This enables the first VM to locate itself among the plurality of VMs that it manages. Based on at least locating itself among the plurality of managed VMs (e.g., determining that the first VM comprises the identified VM), the first VM performs the configuration change on itself. Example changes include increasing memory, increasing storage allocation, increasing the number of processors, and other changes that may be associated with upgrading or migrating a VM.

Abstract: Techniques for declaratively deploying a virtual infrastructure management (VIM) server in a computing environment are provided. According to one set of embodiments, an installer computer system can receive a desired state definition specifying a desired state for the VIM server and a virtual infrastructure to be managed by the VIM server. The installer computer system can further install the VIM server on a target computer system in the computing environment and provide the desired state definition to the target computer system. Upon initial boot up of the VIM server on the target computer system, a service of the VIM server can automatically configure the VIM server in accordance with the desired state definition.