Patent attributes
Systems and methods for deploying and managing virtual machine clusters. A method commences upon launching, on a subject processor instance that is running a first operating system, an installation hypervisor that forms a RAM disk comprising an installation boot image and respective one or more scripts. A bootable portion of the RAM disk is exposed to a virtual machine so as to serve as a virtual boot device that comprises the installation boot image and its one or more scripts. Next, a physical boot device is exposed to the virtual machine so as to initiate a boot operation that causes the virtual machine to boot. A subsequent boot operation is initiated to cause transfer of instruction execution to a low-level I/O subsystem entry point such that the target boot image is booted.
