Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for installing program components on a computer including a first operating system installed in a first file directory. A second file directory is created and an operating system image is copied to the second file directory to provide a second operating system installed on the computer. Configuration setting information is processed to determine configuration settings for the first operating system in the first file directory. The determined configuration settings is copied from the first file directory to configuration settings in the second file directory, wherein the second operating system uses the configuration settings copied to the second file directory.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for maintaining configuration settings for applications on a computer system. Configuration backup information indicates configuration settings to backup for at least one of application. The configuration backup information is processed to access the indicated configuration settings for the at least one application on the computer system to backup and the accessed configuration settings for at least one application are stored in at least one file. The stored configuration settings are recovered for use with at least one application.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for network management. Information is discovered on at least one client of a plurality of clients managed by a server. The discovered information is compared to rules related to the management of the plurality of clients, wherein the rules are for examining prior operational history and current operation of the at least one client. Based on the comparison, an update is recognized to be applied to the at least one client, wherein the update includes an executable that can be automatically installed on the at least one client. The update is pushed to the at least one client, wherein the discovering, comparing, recognizing and pushing are controlled by the server.