A method for enabling dormant computer hardware resources in a computer
system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources. The method
includes accepting a customer request to enable a set of dormant hardware
resources, and providing computer readable instructions to a customer
accessible console in communication with the computer system. The
instructions are installable by the customer, and are capable of enabling
dormant computer hardware resources upon installation. An order process
establishes prerequisites, facilitates customer order placement, and
provides rapid order fulfillment. Prerequisites include contract terms,
information describing the computing system configuration, access to
provider systems, and customer system setup. Ordering is facilitated
through information management, configuration rules, and an interactive
interface, presenting valid configuration options to the customer.
Fulfillment is facilitated through parallel processing, providing
computer readable upgrade instructions nearly concurrently with
provider's internal order approval. An alternative embodiment provides
upgrade instructions before provider's internal order approval.