Executor for software configuration automation

1. A distributed topology system, comprising:

a distributed topology engine configured to run on a server device and define a topology comprising a plurality of building blocks, each building block representing at least one task pertaining to an application;

a distributed topology application configured to run on a client device and automatically execute at least one of the plurality of building blocks; and

a distributed topology database configured to store the topology, wherein the topology specifies that a first one of the plurality of building blocks is to be executed on a first host and a second one of the plurality of building blocks is to be executed on a second host, and wherein the topology further specifies that the first and second ones of the plurality of building blocks are to be executed at least partially concurrently with each other.

2. The distributed topology system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of building blocks is defined by a user.

3. The distributed topology system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of building blocks comprises installation information pertaining to the application.

4. The distributed topology system of claim 3 , wherein the installation information identifies a particular host on which the application is to be installed.

5. The distributed topology system of claim 1 , wherein the distributed topology engine is further configured to define a second topology comprising at least one of, but less than all of, the plurality of building blocks.

6. The distributed topology system of claim 5 , wherein the distributed topology database is further configured to store the second topology.

7. The distributed topology system of claim 1 , wherein the distributed topology application is configured to execute at least two of the plurality of building blocks in a specified sequence defined by the topology.

8. The distributed topology system of claim 1 , further comprising a topology editor configured to allow a user to edit the topology.

9. The distributed topology system of claim 8 , wherein the topology editor is configured to allow the user to edit at least one of the plurality of building blocks.

10. A system, comprising:

a plurality of host machines, each host machine hosting at least one of a group of applications consisting of: a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application, a Financial Management (FINS) application, a Human Capital Management (HCM) application, a Procurement and Sourcing (PRC) application, a Project and Portfolio Management (PRJ) application, and a Supply Chain Management (SCM) application;

a load balancer configured to service each of the plurality of host machines;

a Real Application Clusters (RAC) database coupled with the plurality of host machines;

a user-defined topology configured to specify interactions between the plurality of host machines, the load balancer, and the RAC database; and

an identity management (IdM) host machine coupled with the plurality of host machines and configured to run an IdM suite to interact with at least one of the applications hosted by at least one of the plurality of host machines, wherein the user-defined topology is further configured to specify interactions between the IdM host machine and the plurality of host machines.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an IdM database coupled with the IdM host machine, wherein the user-defined topology is further configured to specify interactions between the IdM database and the IdM suite.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one database host coupled between the plurality of host machines and the RAC database, wherein the user-defined topology is further configured to specify interactions between the at least one database host and the plurality of host machines.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the topology comprises a plurality of building blocks, each building block specifying installation parameters for at least one of the applications.

14. A computer-controlled method, comprising:

a distributed topology engine running on a server device and defining a topology comprising a plurality of building blocks, each building block representing at least one task pertaining to an application;

a distributed topology application running on a client device and automatically executing at least one of the plurality of building blocks; and

a distributed topology database storing the topology, wherein the topology specifies that a first one of the plurality of building blocks is to be executed on a first host and a second one of the plurality of building blocks is to be executed on a second host, and wherein the topology further specifies that the first and second ones of the plurality of building blocks are to be executed at least partially concurrently with each other.

15. The computer-controlled method of claim 14 , further comprising a topology editor allowing a user to edit the topology.

16. The computer-controlled method of claim 15 , further comprising the topology editor allowing the user to edit at least one of the plurality of building blocks.

17. The computer-controlled method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of building blocks is defined by a user.

18. The computer-controlled method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of building blocks comprises installation information pertaining to the application.

19. The computer-controlled method of claim 18 , wherein the installation information identifies a particular host on which the application is to be installed.

20. The computer-controlled method of claim 14 , further comprising the distributed topology engine defining a second topology comprising at least one of, but less than all of, the plurality of building blocks.

21. The computer-controlled method of claim 20 , further comprising the distributed topology database storing the second topology.

22. The computer-controlled method of claim 14 , further comprising the distributed topology application executing at least two of the plurality of building blocks in a specified sequence defined by the topology.

23. A computer-controlled method, comprising:

a plurality of host machines each hosting at least one of a group of applications consisting of: a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application, a Financial Management (FINS) application, a Human Capital Management (HCM) application, a Procurement and Sourcing (PRC) application, a Project and Portfolio Management (PRJ) application, and a Supply Chain Management (SCM) application;

a load balancer servicing each of the plurality of host machines;

a user-defined topology specifying interactions between the plurality of host machines, the load balancer, and a Real Application Clusters (RAC) database coupled with the plurality of host machines;

an identity management (IdM) host machine coupled with the plurality of host machines running an IdM suite to interact with at least one of the applications hosted by at least one of the plurality of host machines; and

the user-defined topology specifying interactions between the IdM host machine and the plurality of host machines.

24. The computer-controlled method of claim 23 , further comprising the user-defined topology specifying interactions between the the IdM suite and an IdM database coupled with the IdM host machine.

25. The computer-controlled method of claim 23 , further comprising the user-defined topology specifying interactions between the plurality of host machines and at least one database host coupled between the plurality of host machines and the RAC database.

26. The computer-controlled method of claim 23 , wherein the topology comprises a plurality of building blocks, each building block specifying installation parameters for at least one of the applications.