Three dimensional framework for information technology solutions

1. A system including a solution advisor tool for designing an information technology (IT) solution, comprising:

a knowledge management system for generating and storing information in a hierarchical format, wherein the knowledge management system includes:

a first knowledge base of characteristics;

a second knowledge base that manages relationship information regarding the interactions of characteristics and defines all valid characteristic combinations, wherein each valid characteristic combination forms a network unit;

a third knowledge base that manages information regarding the interconnectability of network units, wherein a valid combination of network units comprises a configuration; and

a fourth knowledge base that manages information regarding sets of all possible configurations that can fulfill a predetermined function, wherein each set comprises a cloud; and

a design interface system for generating the IT solution, comprising:

a system for specifying the solution using a first cloud;

a system for replacing the first cloud with a set of second clouds;

a system for replacing a selected cloud with at least one configuration;

a system for replacing a selected configuration with at least one network unit; and

a system for replacing a generic network unit with a specific network unit.

2. The solution advisor tool of claim 1 , further comprising a fifth database of keywords.

3. The solution advisor tool of claim 1 , further comprising a sixth knowledge base of valid network unit partners.

4. The solution advisor tool of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprise products and functions.

5. The solution advisor tool of claim 1 , characteristics comprise generic products and specific products.

6. The solution advisor tool of claim 5 , wherein the design interface further includes a system for replacing generic products with specific products.

7. A program product stored on a computer readable medium with executable instructions, which when executed provides a system for generating an information technology solution, comprising:

a system for specifying a generic solution using a cloud selected from a plurality of clouds, wherein each cloud provides a set of all possible configurations that can fulfill a predetermined function that the cloud represents, and wherein each configuration includes a valid set of network units, and wherein each network unit comprises a set of characteristics;

a system for replacing the cloud with at least one second cloud, wherein the at least one second cloud includes a more specific set of configuration details;

a system for replacing a selected cloud with at least one configuration;

a system for replacing a selected configuration with at least one network unit; and

a system for replacing a generic network unit with a specific network unit.

8. The program product of claim 7 , further comprising a system for replacing generic characteristics with specific characteristics.

9. The program product of claim 7 , wherein the set of characteristics include products and functions.

10. The program product of claim 7 , wherein the program product further includes a system for storing and managing information regarding the clouds, configurations, network units and characteristics.