Virtual Machine Manufacturing Methods and Media

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an information handling system is disclosed wherein the method includes receiving an order for an information handling system (IHS), wherein the IHS comprises at least one virtual machine (VM) and determining a number of physical systems and an amount of storage required for the IHS. The method may also include providing the number of physical systems and the amount of storage and providing virtualization software for the number of physical systems, wherein the virtualization software is utilized to create the at least one virtual machine. The method further includes pre-configuring a plurality of parameters for the at least one VM.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for manufacturing an information handling system prior to delivery to a customer, the method comprising:
 receiving an order for an information handling system (IHS), the IHS including a virtual machine (VM) and a set of requirements for the VM;   in response to receiving the order, determining a number of physical systems and an amount of storage required for the IHS to meet the set of requirements for the VM;   providing the number of physical systems and the amount of storage;   providing virtualization software for the number of physical systems, the virtualization software operable to create the VM; and   prior to delivery to the customer:
 installing the virtualization software on the number of physical systems to run on the number of physical systems without an operating system (OS); and 
 configuring the VM to comply with the set of requirements for the VM. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the set of requirements are selected from the group consisting of an amount of memory, a central processing unit (CPU) speed, an OS type, a software type, a network interface card (NIC) type and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, prior to delivery to the customer, installing internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) software on the number of physical systems, the iSCSI software operable to provide shared storage for the number of physical systems. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising, prior to delivery to the customer:
 creating an initiator for the VM operable to send iSCSI commands over an internet protocol (IP) network;   creating an iSCSI target for the VM; and   creating an iSCSI logical unit number (LUN) on the shared storage to be provided to the iSCSI target.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising, prior to delivery to the customer, associating the iSCSI target with the initiator, the iSCSI target operable for use by the VM as a virtual disk. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising, prior to delivery to the customer, creating the VM on the number of physical systems, the VM operable to simulate a physical system with a plurality of components selected from the group consisting of a random access memory (RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), a network interface card (NIC), a storage device and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising, prior to delivery to the customer, promoting the VM to a clustered resource state, the VM hosted by a first physical system of the number of physical systems or a second physical system of the number of physical systems if the first physical system becomes unavailable. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising, prior to delivery to the customer, installing failover clustering software for the VM on the number of physical system, the failover clustering software operable to configure the IHS to perform failover clustering. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein system management software insures that the VM is configured, prior to delivery to the customer, to maintain the clustered resource state in an automated fashion. 
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable medium having instructions for manufacturing an information handling system that, when executed by a processor, are configured to:
 receive an order for an information handling system (IHS), the IHS including a virtual machine (VM) and a set of requirements for the VM;   in response to receiving the order, determine a number of physical systems and an amount of storage required for the IHS to meet the set of requirements for the VM;   provide the number of physical systems and the amount of storage;   provide virtualization software for the number of physical systems, the virtualization software operable to create the VM; and   prior to delivery to the customer:
 install the virtualization software on the number of physical systems to run on the number of physical systems without an operating system (OS); and 
 configure the VM to comply with the set of requirements for the VM. 
   
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the set of requirements are selected from the group consisting of an amount of memory, a CPU processor speed, an OS type, a software type, a network interface card (NIC) type and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer, install internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) software on the number of physical systems, the iSCSI software operable to provide shared storage for the number of physical systems. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer,
 create an initiator for the VM operable to send iSCSI commands over an internet protocol (IP) network;   create an iSCSI target for the VM;   create an iSCSI logical unit number (LUN) on the shared storage to be provided to the iSCSI target; and   associate the iSCSI target with the initiator, wherein the VM utilizes the iSCSI target as a virtual disk.   
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer, create the VM on the number of physical systems, the VM operable to simulate a physical system with a plurality of components selected from the group consisting of a random access memory (RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), a network interface card (NIC), a storage device and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer:
 install failover clustering software for the VM on the number of physical systems, wherein the failover clustering software is operable to configure the IHS to perform failover clustering; and   promote the VM to a clustered resource state, the VM hosted by a first physical system of the number of physical systems, and the VM hosted by a second physical system of the number of physical systems if the first physical system becomes unavailable;   wherein system management software insures the VM is configured, prior to delivery to the customer, to maintain the clustered resource state in an automated fashion.   
     
     
         36 . A system for manufacturing an information handling system prior to delivery to a customer, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the computer-readable medium having instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to:   receive an order for an information handling system (IHS), the IHS including a virtual machine (VM) and a set of requirements for the VM;   in response to receiving the order, determine a number of physical systems and an amount of storage required for the IHS to meet the set of requirements for the VM;   provide the number of physical systems and the amount of storage;   provide virtualization software for the number of physical systems, the virtualization software operable to create the VM; and   prior to delivery to the customer:
 install the virtualization software on the number of physical systems to run on the number of physical systems without an operating system (OS); and 
 configure the VM to comply with the set of requirements for the VM. 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the set of requirements are selected from the group consisting of an amount of memory, a CPU processor speed, an OS type, a software type, a network interface card (NIC) type and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer, install internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) software on the number of physical systems, wherein the iSCSI software is utilized to provide shared storage for the number of physical systems. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer,
 create an initiator for the VM operable to send iSCSI commands over an internet protocol (IP) network;   create an iSCSI target for the VM;   create an iSCSI logical unit number (LUN) on the shared storage to be provided to the iSCSI target; and   associate the iSCSI target with the initiator, wherein the VM utilizes the iSCSI target as a virtual disk.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , the instructions further configured to, prior to delivery to the customer:
 install failover clustering software for the VM on the number of physical systems, wherein the failover clustering software is operable to configure the IHS to perform failover clustering; and   promote the VM to a clustered resource state, the VM hosted by a first physical system of the number of physical systems, and the VM hosted by a second physical system of the number of physical systems if the first physical system becomes unavailable;   wherein system management software insures the VM is configured, prior to delivery to the customer, to maintain the clustered resource state in an automated fashion.