Abstract: A generic product configuration framework is disclosed which utilizes a number of components to facilitate platform-independent configuration of installers and the installation of software products. The framework includes metadata, which defines actions, properties and characteristics for creating installers for software products. Two such types of actions include interactions to conduct with a user and tasks to be performed for installing the software product. The framework parses through the metadata and creates executable components for all the actions defined by the metadata, which are organized according to execution relationships specified within the metadata. When installation of a product is requested, the framework causes the executable components to be executed in the correct order, thus installing the software product according to the actions, properties and characteristics specified by the metadata.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the application of the Class of Service (CoS) feature in a directory server. The CoS feature allows user entries in a directory to be associated to service templates for multiple registered services in the directory. Once a service is registered, a CoS definition (service definition) may be created for that service under the organization entry. Once a service gets activated, an associated CoS template (service template) may be created for that service using its service definition. The template entries contain a list of shared attribute values and changes to these values get automatically applied to all the entries sharing the attribute. By creating these service definitions and templates under an organization entry, all the service privileges can be made available to all entries under the organization. Similarly, policies for resources can be defined for an organization and policy specific attributes can be made applicable to all the entries in the organization.