A virtual system pattern is made up of one or more virtual images and script packages. The pattern can be used to create consistent and repeatable virtual systems in the cloud. When you deploy a virtual system pattern, you create an instance of the virtual system in the cloud. You can use the same virtual system pattern to create multiple consistent instances. Each instance can be customized through the use of parameters during deployment. Parameters typically contain information about resource locations and user IDs that are used by the system.
A virtual image consists of an operating system and binary files for an application or service.
A script package is used to customize the behavior of a virtual image.
The deployed instance is a running system. Users access it in the cloud. The behavior of a system in the cloud is identical to its behavior when deployed on a physical host.
Users and administrators access the deployed instance using a web browser or VNC (virtual network computing) client, using the host name and IP address created when the instance is deployed. Depending on security settings, an SSH session may need to be created first.
Administrators may also use SSH to access the deployed virtual operating systems.