User interface for dynamic computing environment using allocateable resources

1. A method comprising:

creating a computing environment from a plurality of processing resources by allocating a plurality of the processing resources by

displaying a list of the plurality of the processing resources on a display device, wherein

the display device is coupled to a processor,

the processor is configured to effect the allocating, and

each of the plurality of the processing resources comprises at least one of a hardware processor and a software program;

accepting signals from a user input device, wherein

the signals indicate the configuration of a selected processing resource of the processing resources, and

the user input device is coupled to the processor;

configuring the selected processing resource;

accepting signals from the user input device to indicate first and second processing resources for configuration, wherein

the first and second processing resources are hardware processors,

the first processing resource is of a first type of hardware processor,

the second processing resource is of a second type of hardware processor,

the user input device is coupled to the processor; and

automatically coupling a first processor to a second processor via a digital network.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

accepting a first signal from the user input device to indicate a processing platform to be used;

accepting a second signal from the user input device to indicate a software component to be installed; and

automatically installing the software component on the processing platform.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the software component is a server component.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the software component is a client component.

5. A system comprising:

a configurable communication link, wherein the communication link is configured to meet a communications requirement of a processing environment;

a plurality of processing devices coupled to the communication link; and

a plurality of software programs executable by the processing devices, wherein

the processing environment comprises the communication link, at least one of the processing devices and at least one of the software programs,

each of the processing devices is of one of a plurality of processing device types,

each of the software programs is of one of a plurality of software programs types, and

the at least one of the processing devices and the at least one of the software programs are configured to meet a processing requirement of the processing environment.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a user interface coupled to the system; and

a controller configured to accept commands from the user interface to configure a second system and configured to configure the second system in response to the commands.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein

the system is configured to automatically manage licensing of a one of the software programs.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein

the system is configured to support remote administration of the processing environment.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein

the system is configured to support visual construction of the processing environment via a user interface.

10. A method for allocating processing resources, the method employing a computer user interface coupled to a display screen and to an input device for generating signals in response to interactions of a user, the method comprising:

allocating the processing resources to create a computing environment by

accepting a first signal from the input device which enables the user to specify a type of operating system for use in the computing environment, wherein said type of operating system is one of a plurality of types of operating systems;

accepting a second signal from the input device which enables the user to specify a type of processor for use within the computing environment, wherein said type of processor is one of a plurality of types of processors;

activating an active operating system, wherein the active operating system is an operating system of the specified type to run in the computing environment; and

activating an active processor, wherein the active processor is a processor of the specified type to run in the computing environment, and the computing environment comprises the active processor and the active operating system.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

displaying the computing environment, wherein the computing environment comprises the active processor and the active operating system.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

displaying an active software program for the computing environment in response to user selection.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

accepting a signal, wherein the signal allows the user to shut down the computing environment.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

accepting a signal which allows the user to specify a new machine to run in the computing environment, to activate the new machine and to display the computing environment having the active machine.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

displaying a plurality of operating system types for selection by the user.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the displaying of the plurality of operating system types occurs prior to the accepting the first signal which enables the user to specify the type of operating system.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

displaying a plurality of processor types for selection by the user.

18. In a computer network, a computer user interface system comprising:

a client, wherein the client comprises

a processor,

a browser, and

a display screen; and

a computer user interface for allocating processing resources, said computer user interface displayed on the display screen, the computer user interface having instructions for allocating the processing resources by selecting one or more types of processing units, operating systems and software programs, wherein

the computer user interface is configured to, in response to user selection of a type of processing unit, use the processor to direct the browser to display a selected processing unit of the types of processing units which is active in a computing environment,

the computer user interface is configured to, in response to user selection of a type of operating system, use the processor to direct the browser to display a selected operating system of the types of operating systems which is running in the computing environment,

the computer user interface is configured to, in response to user selection of a type of software program, use the processor to direct the browser to display a selected software program of the types of software programs which is running in the computing environment,

the browser displays the computing environment, and

the computing environment comprises the selected processing unit, the selected operating system and the selected software program.

19. A computer user interface for allocating processing resources comprising:

first instructions for allocating the processing resources by enabling a user to specify a type of operating system from a plurality of types of operating systems for use in a computing environment; and

second instructions for enabling the user to specify a type of processor from a plurality of types of processors for use in the computing environment, wherein

the computer user interface is configured to create the computing environment, and

the computing environment comprises the specified type of operating system of the plurality of types of operating systems and the specified type of processor of the plurality of types of processors.

20. The computer user interface of claim 19 , further comprising:

third instructions for enabling a user to specify a type of software program.