VIRTUAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

In one preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a computer system (10) for providing virtual computers. The computer system (10) includes a pool facility (38) for storing a pool (40) of suspended virtual computers (42) based on at least one virtual computer template (44). A provision manager (32) provides a series (46) of virtual computers (18) as a result of a series (50) of system logon requests by a user (54). The provision manager (32) includes an update facility (100), a resume facility (102) and a customization facility (104). The update facility (104) is provided for updating the or each at least one virtual computer template (44). The resume facility (102) is provided for resuming virtual computers from the pool (40) of suspended virtual computers (42) provided by the pool facility (38). The customization facility (104) is provided for customizing virtual computers after being resumed from the pool (40) to provide active virtual computers.