Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for managing disk images used to manufacture information handling machines. In various embodiments of the invention, a disk image is initially created using an image builder server. A “definition,” also known as a “manifest,” of the image is stored on the image builder server using XML. Once the image is verified and accepted as a base disk image, it is designated as the “parent” image. Subsequently, one or more “children” images are created by copying and modifying the manifest of the parent image and creating a new entry. Predetermined linkage indicators are used to designate the association of the parent image with one or more child images. When the parent image is modified, the linkage indicators are used to propagate corresponding modifications to the associated child images, thereby ensuring coherency in the family of images.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for managing disk images used to manufacture information handling machines. In various embodiments of the invention, a disk image is initially created using an image builder server. A “definition,” also known as a “manifest,” of the image is stored on the image builder server using XML. Once the image is verified and accepted as a base disk image, it is designated as the “parent” image. Subsequently, one or more “children” images are created by copying and modifying the manifest of the parent image and creating a new entry. Predetermined linkage indicators are used to designate the association of the parent image with one or more child images. When the parent image is modified, the linkage indicators are used to propagate corresponding modifications to the associated child images, thereby ensuring coherency in the family of images.

Abstract: Replacement of legacy information handling systems at a deployment site is automatically managed in cooperation with an information handling system manufacture site by coordinating the building of replacement information handling systems with appropriate configurations. An asset discovery tool interfaces with the legacy information handling systems through a deployment site network to discover the configurations of the legacy systems and communicates the legacy configurations to the manufacture site. An asset translation engine translates the legacy configurations to replacement configurations for building the replacement information handling systems. The ordering of replacement systems and the translation to the replacement configuration is managed by rules defined through an order tool of the deployment site and may include applications packaged at the deployment site and communicated to the manufacture site for installation on the replacement systems.