1. A method for facilitating the creation of configurable virtual server instances from machine images, the method comprising: a. generating a first bootable base machine image, specifying a subset of desired virtual server capabilities and a configuration manager; b. transmitting first instructions to a virtual server service to instantiate a first virtual server, wherein the first virtual server includes: (i) a first instantiation of the subset of desired virtual server capabilities specified by the first bootable base machine image and (ii) a first instantiation of the configuration manager specified by the first bootable base machine image; c. determining that the first instantiation of the configuration manager of the instantiated first virtual server is ready to receive first configuration information; d. transmitting, to the first instantiation of the configuration manager, first configuration information to configure with first functionality the first instantiated virtual server; e. generating a second bootable base machine image from the configured first instantiated virtual server, wherein the second bootable base machine image specifies the subset of desired virtual capabilities and the configuration manager; f. transmitting second instructions to the virtual server service to instantiate a second virtual server, wherein the second virtual server includes: (i) a second instantiation of the subset of desired virtual server capabilities specified by the second bootable base machine image, (ii) a second instantiation of the configuration manager specified by the second bootable base machine image, and (iii) the first functionality; g. determining that the second instantiation of the configuration manager of the instantiated second virtual server is ready to receive second configuration information; h. transmitting, to the second instantiation of the configuration manager, second configuration information to configure the second instantiated virtual server to replace the first functionality with second functionality that is different from the first functionality.