Abstract: A provisioning system selects the appropriate action to take in provisioning a server computer by retrieving information on the build operators associated with a policy applied to the server, retrieves state file information on state files associated with the build operator, and selects the appropriate state file associated with the build operator based on the state value, the state value indicating the current stage of the provisioning process. Provisioning rules contained within the state file are selected based upon comparing criteria contained in the rule against the attributes of the server. An instruction set is extracted from the selected rule executed. The instructions within the instruction set may specify using a vendor tool or performing other tasks in provisioning the server.

Abstract: A method of installing software on a target computer using policies and constraints. Policies include at least one provisioning rule specifying a provisioning instruction. The provisioning instruction specifies at an action to be performed in installing software on a target computer. Constraints specify criteria a target computer must satisfy. A policy applied to a group of target computers subject to a constraint will only be applied to those target computers satisfying the constraint. Target computers satisfying the constraint will have a provisioning instruction selected from a provisioning rule, the provisioning rule selected according to attribute criteria corresponding to the attributes of the target computer.