Provisioning a virtual machine from one or more VM images

1. A method for provisioning a specified virtual machine (VM) from components represented by nodes of one or more selected VM image graphs, the method comprising:

decomposing each of the one or more selected VM image graphs to provide a set of subgraphs representing a group of components, each component in the group of components represented by a node and having specified information associated with it, wherein the one or more selected VM image graphs are decomposed to provide the set of subgraphs representing the group of components within a VM image catalog, each subgraph in the set of subgraphs included within the VM image catalog represents one or more of the group of components as nodes and edges between nodes represent respective dependencies, and each subgraph having one or more specified attributes, wherein the one or more specified attributes associated with each subgraph in the set of subgraphs include at least one attribute selected from an attribute group that comprises a component owner, an identity of the component owner, the component owner's authentication signature, a component description, component license terms, and component performance, and wherein servers containing each of the selected subgraphs are identified, and wherein each selected subgraph is downloaded from its respective server via a network;

using one or more selection criteria to select components from the group of components represented by the set of subgraphs within the VM image catalog for assembly into a specified VM image based on the specified information associated with each component, wherein the one or more selection criteria comprise a set of attributes specified by a user used to select subgraphs from the VM image catalog for assembling the specified VM image; and

using the selected components assembled in the specified VM image to provision the specified virtual machine at one or more locations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a logic tool that is furnished with the set of attributes specified by the user, is used to select the subgraphs from the VM image catalog.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

respective downloaded slices are assembled into the specified VM image to provision the specified virtual machine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the set of attributes specified by the user for the selection criteria is selected from a group of attributes that includes at least one of a component trust level and a component licensing cost.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a packing list is generated that identifies each subgraph needed to assemble the specified VM image.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

information associated with a component includes the address of the first block of the component, and the address of the last block of that component.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

information associated with a component includes identification information.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

information associated with a component includes information about relationships with other components.

9. A computer system for provisioning a specified virtual machine (VM) from components represented by nodes of one or more selected VM image graphs, the computer system comprising:

a bus;

a memory connected to the bus, wherein the memory stores program instructions; and

a processor connected to the bus, wherein the processor executes the program instructions to decompose each of the one or more selected VM image graphs to provide a set of subgraphs representing a group of components, each component in the group of components represented by a node and having specified information associated with it, wherein the one or more selected VM image graphs are decomposed to provide the set of subgraphs representing the group of components within a VM image catalog, each subgraph in the set of subgraphs included within the VM image catalog represents one or more of the group of components as nodes and edges between nodes represent respective dependencies, and each subgraph having one or more specified attributes, wherein the one or more specified attributes associated with each subgraph in the set of subgraphs include at least one attribute selected from an attribute group that comprises a component owner, an identity of the component owner, the component owner's authentication signature, a component description, component license terms, and component performance, and wherein servers containing each of the selected subgraphs are identified, and wherein each selected subgraph is downloaded from its respective server via a network; use one or more selection criteria to select components from the group of components represented by the set of subgraphs within the VM image catalog for assembly into a specified VM image based on the specified information associated with each component, wherein the one or more selection criteria comprise a set of attributes specified by a user used to select subgraphs from the VM image catalog for assembling the specified VM image; and use the selected components assembled in the specified VM image to provision the specified virtual machine at one or more locations.

10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein:

a logic tool, which is furnished with the set of attributes specified by the user, is used to select the subgraphs from the VM image catalog.

11. A computer program product for provisioning a specified virtual machine (VM) from components represented by nodes of one or more selected VM image graphs, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

decompose each of the one or more selected VM image graphs to provide a set of subgraphs representing a group of components, each component in the group of components represented by a node and having specified information associated with it, wherein the one or more selected VM image graphs are decomposed to provide the set of subgraphs representing the group of components within a VM image catalog, each subgraph in the set of subgraphs included within the VM image catalog represents one or more of the group of components as nodes and edges between nodes represent respective dependencies, and each subgraph having one or more specified attributes, wherein the one or more specified attributes associated with each subgraph in the set of subgraphs include at least one attribute selected from an attribute group that comprises a component owner, an identity of the component owner, the component owner's authentication signature, a component description, component license terms, and component performance, and wherein servers containing each of the selected subgraphs are identified, and wherein each selected subgraph is downloaded from its respective server via a network;

use one or more selection criteria to select components from the group of components represented by the set of subgraphs within the VM image catalog for assembly into a specified VM image based on the specified information associated with each component, wherein the one or more selection criteria comprise a set of attributes specified by a user used to select subgraphs from the VM image catalog for assembling the specified VM image; and

use the selected components assembled in the specified VM image to provision the specified virtual machine at one or more locations.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein:

a logic tool, which is furnished with the set of attributes specified by the user, is used to select the subgraphs from the VM image catalog.

13. The computer program product of Claim 11 , wherein:

respective downloaded subgraphs are assembled into the specified VM image to provision the specified virtual machine.