SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING AN APPLICATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1 . A method of operating an application distribution system, comprising:

providing a list of one or more attachable applications;

receiving a selection indicating at least one application of the one or more attachable applications to be attached to a virtual machine; and

attaching the at least one application to the virtual machine.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

starting the virtual machine.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the at least one application to the virtual machine comprises:

identifying at least one storage volume based on the at least one application; and

attaching the at least one storage volume to the virtual machine.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

in the virtual machine, executing an application from the at least one storage volume.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein attaching the at least one storage volume to the virtual machine comprises:

directing a hypervisor to attach the at least one storage volume to the virtual machine.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

overlaying content into the virtual machine, wherein the content makes the at least one application on the at least one storage volume available to the virtual machine.

7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

detecting a detach triggering event; and

in response to the detach triggering event, detaching the at least one storage volume from the virtual machine.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a storage system, comprising the at least one storage volume, is located remotely from a host computer system, comprising the virtual machine, over a communication network.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection is received from a user.

10 . A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for operating an application distribution system, wherein the instructions, when executed by the application distribution system, direct the application distribution system to:

provide a list of one or more attachable applications;

receive a selection indicating at least one application of the one or more attachable applications to be attached to a virtual machine; and

attach the at least one application to the virtual machine.

11 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further direct the application distribution system to:

start the virtual machine.

12 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions that direct the application distribution system to attach the at least one application to the virtual machine comprise instructions that direct the application distribution system to:

identify at least one storage volume based on the at least one application; and

attach the at least one storage volume to the virtual machine.

13 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the virtual machine executes an application from the at least one storage volume.

14 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions that direct the application distribution system to attach the at least one storage volume to the virtual machine comprise instructions that direct the application distribution system to:

direct a hypervisor to attach the at least one storage volume to the virtual machine.

15 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein content is overlaid into the virtual machine and wherein the content makes the at least one application on the at least one storage volume available to the virtual machine.

16 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , the instructions further direct the application distribution system to:

detect a detach triggering event; and

in response to the detach triggering event, detach the at least one storage volume from the virtual machine.

17 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein a storage system, comprising the at least one storage volume, is located remotely from a host computer system, comprising the virtual machine, over a communication network.

18 . The computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the selection is received from a user.

19 . An application distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of storage volumes comprising one or more attachable applications;

a processing system configured to provide a list of the one or more attachable applications, receive a selection indicating at least one application of the one or more attachable applications to be attached to a virtual machine, and attach the at least one application to the virtual machine.

20 . The application distribution system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a host computer configured to start the virtual machine.