Installing and Configuring Software and/or Hardware Components Using Metadata Representations of Component Interdependencies

Process embodiments, implementations of the process embodiments, and products of the processes are disclosed that may be stored as files on a memory device, or as components in a database. Operating a computer based upon a metadata representation of a component and its interdependency with at least one other component is disclosed. Apparatus embodiments include implementation software components, memory devices and/or servers containing the implementation software component and/or an installation package for the implementation software components. Components may also be hardware components, hardware-software components, or virtual hardware components.