Multi-server automated redundant service configuration

1. A computer implemented method for automated redundant configuration of a computer service, the method comprising:

receiving an installation answer regarding configuring the computer service;

via the installation answer, automatically determining configuration settings for the computer service to operate redundantly across a plurality of computer servers; and

via the configuration settings, configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the computer service;

wherein the installation answer comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address range, wherein the service is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service, wherein the automatically determining configuration settings comprises splitting the IP address range, wherein configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the DHCP service comprises assigning, based on the splitting, part of the IP address range to a first server of the plurality of computer servers and assigning a different part of the IP address range to a second server of the plurality of computer servers, wherein the first server is capable of providing the DHCP service if the second server stops responding, wherein the second server is capable of providing the DHCP service if the first server stops responding, and wherein if the first server stops responding, the second server is configured to take over providing the DHCP service for the part of the IP address range assigned to the first server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the installation answer comprises:

displaying a user interface on a server of the plurality of computer servers; and

receiving the installation answer from a user via the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the installation answer comprises receiving the installation answer from an automated discovery process run by a server of the plurality of computer servers.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an installation answer regarding configuring a second computer service;

via the installation answer, automatically determining configuration settings for the second computer service to operate redundantly across the plurality of computer servers; and

via the configuration settings for the second computer service, configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the second computer service by dividing a responsibility to provide the second computer service between a first server of the plurality of computer servers and a second server of the plurality of computer servers, wherein the responsibility is to provide data backup services.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an installation answer regarding configuring a second computer service;

via the installation answer, automatically determining configuration settings for the second computer service to operate redundantly across the plurality of computer servers; and

via the configuration settings for the second computer service, configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the second computer service by dividing a responsibility to provide the second computer service between a first server of the plurality of computer servers and a second server of the plurality of computer servers, wherein the responsibility is to provide networking services.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an installation answer regarding configuring a second computer service;

via the installation answer, automatically determining configuration settings for the second computer service to operate redundantly across the plurality of computer servers; and

via the configuration settings for the second computer service, configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the second computer service by dividing a responsibility to provide the second computer service between a first server of the plurality of computer servers and a second server of the plurality of computer servers, wherein the responsibility is to provide directory services.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically determining configuration settings comprises consulting an installation knowledge base based on the installation answer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the computer service comprises configuring a first server of the plurality of servers as a primary server for the service and configuring a second server of the plurality of servers as a secondary server for the service.

9. A computer implemented method for automated redundant configuration of a plurality of computer servers to provide a computer service, the method comprising:

asking a user configuring the plurality of computer servers an installation question;

receiving an installation answer in response to the installation question;

based on the installation answer, determining a first configuration setting for configuring a first server of a plurality of computer servers to provide the computer service, wherein determining the first configuration setting comprises consulting an installation knowledge base;

configuring the first server with the first configuration setting;

based on the installation answer, determining a second configuration setting for configuring a second server of the plurality of computer servers to provide the computer service, wherein determining the second configuration setting comprises consulting the installation knowledge base; and

configuring the second server with the second configuration setting;

wherein the computer service is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service, wherein determining the first and second configuration settings further comprises splitting an Internet Protocol (IP) address range managed by the DHCP service into a first address range and a second address range, wherein the first address range and the second address range are mutually exclusive address ranges, wherein the first server is a primary server, wherein the second server is a secondary server, wherein the service can be provided by the secondary server if the primary server is inoperable, and wherein if the primary server is inoperable, the secondary server is configured to take over providing the DHCP service for the first address range from the primary server.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first configuration setting is different from the second configuration setting.

11. One or more computer readable media having encoded thereon one or more computer instructions for performing the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving an installation answer regarding configuring a computer service;

based on the installation answer, consulting an installation knowledge base;

based on the consultation, automatically determining configuration settings for the computer service to operate redundantly across a plurality of computer servers; and

using the configuration settings, configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the computer service;

wherein the installation answer comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address range, wherein the service is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service, wherein the automatically determining configuration settings comprises splitting the IP address range, wherein configuring the plurality of computer servers to provide the DHCP service comprises assigning, based on the splitting, part of the IP address range to a first server of the plurality of computer servers and assigning a different part of the IP address range to a second server of the plurality of computer servers, wherein the first server is capable of providing the DHCP service if the second server stops responding, wherein the second server is capable of providing the DHCP service if the first server stops responding, and wherein if the first server stops responding, the second server is configured to take over providing the DHCP service for the part of the IP address range assigned to the first server.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving the installation answer comprises receiving the installation answer via a remotely accessible service running on a computer server.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more computer readable media have further encoded thereon one or more computer server installation images, and wherein the configuring the plurality of computer servers further comprises installing the one or more computer server installation images on one or more corresponding computer servers of the plurality of computer servers.