Compatibility-based configuration of hardware with virtualization software

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the use of a computer system with virtualization software, comprising:

obtaining a set of hardware attributes from the computer system and a hardware compatibility list (HCL) for the virtualization software;

using the hardware attributes and the HCL to predict a compatibility of a hardware component in the computer system with the virtualization software and a confidence in said predicted compatibility;

performing one or more tests associated with the virtualization software on the hardware component if the confidence falls below a pre-specified threshold; and

using the predicted compatibility, said confidence in said predicted compatibility and a result of said one or more tests to manage use of the computer system with the virtualization software;

wherein the one or more tests comprise execution of a test virtual computing environment on the computer system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the HCL and the compatibility based on one or more results of the one or more tests.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the HCL is obtained from and updated using at least one of:

a portable storage device; and

a server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more tests comprise at least one of:

an automated test; and

interaction with a user of the computer system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the confidence is determined based on at least one of:

an amount of compatibility information for the hardware component in the HCL; and

a consistency of the compatibility information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the hardware attributes and the HCL to predict the compatibility of a hardware component with the virtualization software involves:

matching a subset of the hardware attributes associated with the hardware component to one or more reports in the HCL; and

using the one or more reports to predict the compatibility.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the predicted compatibility to manage use of the computer system with the virtualization software involves at least one of:

generating an alert associated with the predicted compatibility;

providing a list of compatible hardware to a user of the computer system;

modifying an installation of the virtualization software on the computer system;

modifying execution of the virtualization software on the computer system; and

modifying execution of the hardware component.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the predicted compatibility comprises at least one of:

a level of function;

a performance;

a reliability;

a functioning feature; and

a non-functioning feature.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set of hardware attributes comprises at least one of:

a name;

a hardware class;

a manufacturer;

a model number;

a firmware version;

a hardware version; and

a serial number.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the compatibility is predicted during at least one of:

installation of the virtualization software;

execution of the virtualization software;

updating of the virtualization software; and

updating of the hardware component.

11. A system for facilitating the use of a computer system comprising at least one processor with virtualization software, the system comprising:

a scanning mechanism stored in at least one memory configured to obtain a set of hardware attributes from the computer system, wherein the at least one processor and at least one memory are communicably coupled;

an analysis apparatus executed by the at least one processor configured to use the hardware attributes and a hardware compatibility list (HCL) for the virtualization software to predict a compatibility of a hardware component in the computer system with the virtualization software and a confidence in said predicted compatibility and to perform one or more tests associated with the virtualization software on the hardware component if the confidence falls below a pre-specified threshold; and

a management apparatus executed by the at least one processor configured to use the predicted compatibility, said confidence in said predicted compatibility and a result of said one or more tests to manage use of the computer system with the virtualization software;

wherein the one or more tests comprise execution of a test virtual computing environment on the computer system.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the analysis apparatus executed by the at least one processor is further configured to:

update the HCL and the compatibility based on one or more results of the one or more tests.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more tests executed by the at least one processor comprise at least one of:

an automated test; and

interaction with a user of the computer system.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the confidence is determined executed by the at least one processor based on at least one of:

an amount of compatibility information for the hardware component in the HCL; and

a consistency of the compatibility information.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein using the hardware attributes and the HCL to predict the compatibility of a hardware component with the virtualization software involves:

matching executed by the at least one processor a subset of the hardware attributes associated with the hardware component to one or more reports in the HCL; and

using executed by the at least one processor the one or more reports to predict the compatibility.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein using the predicted compatibility to manage use of the computer system with the virtualization software involves at least one of:

generating executed by the at least one processor an alert associated with the predicted compatibility;

providing executed by the at least one processor a list of compatible hardware to a user of the computer system;

modifying executed by the at least one processor an installation of the virtualization software on the computer system;

modifying execution by the at least one processor of the virtualization software on the computer system; and

modifying execution by the at least one processor of the hardware component.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating the use of a computer system with virtualization software, the method comprising:

obtaining a set of hardware attributes from the computer system and a hardware compatibility list (HCL) for the virtualization software;

using the hardware attributes and the HCL to predict a compatibility and a confidence in said predicted compatibility of a hardware component in the computer system with the virtualization software;

performing one or more tests associated with the virtualization software on the hardware component if the confidence falls below a pre-specified threshold; and

using the predicted compatibility, said confidence in said predicted compatibility and a result of said one or more tests to manage use of the computer system with the virtualization software;

wherein the one or more tests comprise execution of a test virtual computing environment on the computer system.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , the method further comprising:

updating the HCL and the compatibility based on one or more results of the one or more tests.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the confidence is determined based on at least one of:

an amount of compatibility information for the hardware component in the HCL; and

a consistency of the compatibility information.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein using the hardware attributes and the HCL to predict the compatibility of a hardware component with the virtualization software involves:

matching a subset of the hardware attributes associated with the hardware component to one or more reports in the HCL; and

using the one or more reports to predict the compatibility.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein using the predicted compatibility to manage use of the computer system with the virtualization software involves at least one of:

generating an alert associated with the predicted compatibility;

providing a list of compatible hardware to a user of the computer system;

modifying an installation of the virtualization software on the computer system;

modifying execution of the virtualization software on the computer system; and

modifying execution of the hardware component.