System and method virtual appliance creation

1. A method for generating virtual appliance products, the method comprising:

obtaining an operating system virtual disk file for a hardened operating system,

wherein the hardened operating system comprises a compliance certificate;

creating a configuration file to include a first reference to the operating system virtual disk file and a second reference to a product-specific disk file;

generating a virtual appliance file comprising the configuration file, the operating system virtual disk file, the product-specific disk file, and an initialization file,

wherein the initialization file comprises a script for removing information from the operating system virtual disk file once the hardened operating system boots, a booting of the hardened operating system occurring on a deployed virtual appliance,

wherein the information is not necessary for operations of the deployed virtual appliance and comprises a programming language library; and

distributing the virtual appliance file to a user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hardened operating system further comprises an operating system update, a modification to at least one security setting, a security patch, security software, and at least one file that assists with security.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user executes the virtual appliance file to obtain the deployed virtual appliance.

4. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

modifying the configuration file to include a third reference to a data disk file related to the product-specific disk file.

5. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

creating a second configuration file to include a third reference to the operating system virtual disk file and a fourth reference to a second product-specific disk file;

generating a second virtual appliance file comprising the second configuration file, the operating system virtual disk file, and the second product-specific disk file; and

distributing the second virtual appliance file to a second user.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method for generating virtual appliance products, the method comprising:

obtaining an operating system virtual disk file for a hardened operating system,

wherein the hardened operating system comprises a compliance certificate;

creating a configuration file to include a first reference to the operating system virtual disk file and a second reference to a product-specific disk file;

generating a virtual appliance file comprising the configuration file, the operating system virtual disk file, the product-specific disk file, and an initialization file,

wherein the initialization file comprises a script for removing information from the operating system virtual disk file once the hardened operating system boots, a booting of the hardened operating system occurring on a deployed virtual appliance,

wherein the information is not necessary for operations of the deployed virtual appliance and comprises a programming language library; and

distributing the virtual appliance file to a user.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the hardened operating system further comprises an operating system update, a modification to at least one security setting, a security patch, security software, and at least one file that assists with security.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the user executes the virtual appliance file to obtain the deployed virtual appliance.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , the method further comprising:

modifying the configuration file to include a third reference to a data disk file related to the product-specific disk file.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 , the method further comprising:

creating a second configuration file to include a third reference to the operating system virtual disk file and a fourth reference to a second product-specific disk file;

generating a second virtual appliance file comprising the second configuration file, the operating system virtual disk file, and the second product-specific disk file; and

distributing the second virtual appliance file to a second user.

11. A system for generating virtual appliance products, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

a product creation device executing on the processor and configured to:

obtain an operating system virtual disk file for a hardened operating system,

wherein the hardened operating system comprises a compliance certificate;

create a configuration file to include a first reference to the operating system virtual disk file and a second reference to a product-specific disk file;

generate a virtual appliance file comprising the configuration file, the operating system virtual disk file, the product-specific disk file, and an initialization file,

wherein the initialization file comprises a script for removing information from the operating system virtual disk file once the hardened operating system boots, a booting of the hardened operating system occurring on a deployed virtual appliance,

wherein the information is not necessary for operations of the deployed virtual appliance and comprises a programming language library; and

distribute the virtual appliance file to a user.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the hardened operating system further comprises an operating system update, a modification to at least one security setting, a security patch, security software, and at least one file that assists with security.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user executes the virtual appliance file to obtain the deployed virtual appliance.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the product creation device is further configured to modify the configuration file to include a third reference to a data disk file related to the product-specific disk file.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the product creation device is further configured to:

create a second configuration file to include a third reference to the operating system virtual disk file and a fourth reference to a second product-specific disk file;

generate a second virtual appliance file comprising the second configuration file, the operating system virtual disk file, and the second product-specific disk file; and

distribute the second virtual appliance file to a second user.