Method and Apparatus for Distributing a Composite Software Stack as a Virtual Machine Image
First Claim
1. A method for publishing software, comprising:
- providing one or more virtual appliances, wherein each virtual appliance comprises a patch comprising file level differences relative to a parent virtual appliance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for distributing a composite software stack as a virtual appliance. A new virtual appliance is published by obtaining a parent virtual appliance; configuring the new virtual appliance; obtaining file level differences between the parent virtual appliance and the new virtual appliance; and publishing the new virtual appliance as a patch comprising the file level differences relative to the parent virtual appliance. The file level differences comprise one or more of additions, deletions and modifications to the parent virtual appliance. An update to a given virtual appliance can be published as a fix pack, wherein the fix pack comprises file level differences relative to the given virtual appliance. An end user obtains a desired virtual appliance is obtained (for example, from a library of virtual appliances) by selecting the desired virtual appliance; obtaining metadata for the desired virtual appliance comprising an identifier of a patch file and a parent virtual appliance; and applying the patch file to the parent virtual appliance to get a modified virtual appliance.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for publishing software, comprising:
providing one or more virtual appliances, wherein each virtual appliance comprises a patch comprising file level differences relative to a parent virtual appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for publishing a new virtual appliance, comprising:
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obtaining a parent virtual appliance; configuring said new virtual appliance; obtaining file level differences between said parent virtual appliance and said new virtual appliance; and publishing said new virtual appliance as a patch comprising said file level differences relative to said parent virtual appliance. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for obtaining a desired virtual appliance, comprising:
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selecting said desired virtual appliance; obtaining metadata for said desired virtual appliance comprising an identifier of a patch file and a parent virtual appliance, wherein said patch file comprises file level differences between said desired virtual appliance and said parent virtual appliance; and applying said patch file to said parent virtual appliance to get a modified virtual appliance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for publishing a new virtual appliance, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to; obtain a parent virtual appliance; configure said new virtual appliance; obtain file level differences between said parent virtual appliance and said new virtual appliance; and publish said new virtual appliance as a patch comprising said file level differences relative to said parent virtual appliance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for obtaining a desired virtual appliance, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to; select said desired virtual appliance; obtain metadata for said desired virtual appliance comprising an identifier of a patch file and a parent virtual appliance, wherein said patch file comprises file level differences between said desired virtual appliance and said parent virtual appliance; and apply said patch file to said parent virtual appliance to get a modified virtual appliance. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification