1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising: receiving one or more factors for distributing data of an installation image to one or more repositories, the factors potentially including one or more size indicators; determining a distribution of the data over the one or more repositories based on the one or more factors; and storing an indication of the distribution of the data in a persistent data store for use in obtaining the data from the one or more repositories for installing, configuring, and/or re-configuring an operating system.