1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a software appliance image the computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for: receiving, at a computer hosting a software execution environment, one or more online configuration settings for the software appliance image, the software appliance image comprising an operating system and an application that are packaged together, wherein the online configuration settings comprise settings that are not required before deployment and execution of the software appliance image has begun on a host computer; utilizing the online configuration settings to configure the software appliance image prior to deployment of the software appliance image to the host computer; transmitting a request to join a domain prior to deployment of the software appliance image to the host computer; receiving one or more authentication keys in response to the request to join the domain; and configuring the software appliance image for operation on the domain using the authentication keys prior to deployment and execution of the software appliance image.