When a user has the right to create an image, that user usually starts with a NoApp or base-line image (Windows XP or Linux) and extends it to the applications.
The baseline is only relevant if the entire test scenario can be consistently reproduced (i.e. you can always rerun the baseline and get the same results back).
One of the first steps in the performance testing protocol for an application running on WebSphere application Server is recording a baseline set of results.