This is seriously interesting :

Key Features

Rapidly create new multi-server software configurations (services)
Monitor resource usage on a per-service, per-stage and per-instance basis
Easily perform operations on a complete service (e.g. cloning, deploying, archiving, etc.)
Marshall changes across the service lifecycle, interacting with external process management/workflow system to ensure compliance with service transition policies
Maintain an archive of past service configurations supporting compliance and recovery operations
Maintain an auditable history of software configuration changes
Manage storage behavior on a per-stage basis to maximize storage efficiency
Control access to services on a per-service, per-stage and per-instance basis
Inherit then deploy services to resource pools created within VMware VirtualCenter

[From VMware Stage Manager 1.0 Beta - VMware]

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