System and method for abstract configuration

1 . A specification for an instance to be implemented on a physical machine, the instance comprising one or more containers of software components, the specification comprising one or more files written in a markup language, wherein:

a first configuration profile to define a basic structure of an instance's configuration for a physical machine, the physical machine within a system; and

a second configuration profile to inherit the properties of the first configuration profile, the second configuration to contain information about a specific system.

2 . The specification of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third configuration profile to inherit the properties of the first and second configuration profiles, the third configuration to contain information about a specific use case of the specific system.

3 . The specification of claim 2 , further comprising:

a fourth configuration profile to inherit the properties of the first, second, and third configuration profiles, the fourth configuration to contain information about a specific use case not found in the third configuration profile.

4 . The specification of claim 3 , further comprising:

a fifth configuration profile to inherit the properties of the first, second, third, and fourth configuration profiles, the fifth configuration to contain information about a specific instance.

5 . The specification of claim 1 , wherein the markup language is XML.

6 . A method comprising:

acquiring properties of a first configuration profile, the first configuration profile defining a structure of an instance's configuration values;

acquiring values of a second configuration profile, the second configuration profile further defining values for the structure of the instance's configuration;

inheriting the properties of the first configuration profile, wherein the second configuration profile inherits the properties of the first configuration profile; and

applying the values of the second configuration profile to the first configuration profile.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

acquiring the properties of a third configuration profile, the third configuration profile defining a specific use case and scenario;

inheriting the properties of the first and second configuration profiles, wherein the third configuration profile inherits the properties of the first and second configuration profiles; and

applying the values of the third configuration profile to the inherited profiles.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

acquiring the properties of a fourth configuration profile, the fourth configuration profile further defining the use case scenario;

inheriting the properties of the first, second, and third configuration profiles, wherein the fourth configuration profile inherits the properties of the first, second, and third configuration profiles; and

applying the values of the fourth configuration profile to the inherited profiles.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

acquiring the properties of a fifth configuration profile, the fifth configuration profile further defining a specific instance;

inheriting the properties of the first, second, third, and fourth configuration profiles, wherein the fifth configuration profile inherits the properties of the first, second, third, and fourth configuration profiles; and

applying the values of the fifth configuration profile to the inherited profiles.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the configuration profiles are written in XML.

11 . An article of manufacture including program code which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

acquiring properties of a first configuration profile, the first configuration profile defining a structure of an instance's configuration values;

acquiring values of a second configuration profile, the second configuration profile further defining values for the structure of the instance's configuration;

inheriting the properties of the first configuration profile, wherein the second configuration profile inherits the properties of the first configuration profile; and

applying the values of the second configuration profile to the first configuration profile.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

acquiring the properties of a third configuration profile, the third configuration profile defining a specific use case and scenario;

inheriting the properties of the first and second configuration profiles, wherein the third configuration profile inherits the properties of the first and second configuration profiles; and

applying the values of the third configuration profile to the inherited profiles.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

acquiring the properties of a fourth configuration profile, the fourth configuration profile further defining the use case scenario;

inheriting the properties of the first, second, and third configuration profiles, wherein the fourth configuration profile inherits the properties of the first, second, and third configuration profiles; and

applying the values of the fourth configuration profile to the inherited profiles.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

acquiring the properties of a fifth configuration profile, the fifth configuration profile further defining a specific instance;

inheriting the properties of the first, second, third, and fourth configuration profiles, wherein the fifth configuration profile inherits the properties of the first, second, third, and fourth configuration profiles; and

applying the values of the fifth configuration profile to the inherited profiles.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the configuration profiles are written in XML.