The idea is that the operating system and software running on a computer is merely a collection of files, and that these files can be broken down and separated into packages of files that are independent of each other. These packages, with some minor adjustments, can then be copied to each machine, or to a collection of machines producing a lab of computers all with the same software and operating system setup. This requires a machine database, Machdb[2], that can keep track of the packages installed and specific configurations required by each machine. Finally, UNIX is used to provide a bootstrap-like environment where files, especially Windows system level files, can be written to the computer without intervention of the Windows operating system.