A method, system and computer program product are provided for representing resource sets in a variable format. Variable resource sets are represented in two parts: a system topology domain and a system detail level. Logical entities are allowed to consume variable resource sets to specify the domain and level required in the attachment. Thus, the resource set attachment is made using a domain system detail level, but the actual resources represented are derived dynamically. That is, the elements that were once statically represented by bits in the resource set are now derived dynamically to reflect the system state at the time they are being used.