System and method for automated network configuration
First Claim
1. A method of configuring a data network with a controller, the data network including a plurality of hosts each associated with at least one of a plurality of switches, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the controller, a request to boot an operating system image on one of the plurality of hosts, the operating system image having network connectivity requirements, wherein the receiving the request to boot the operating system image includes determining a first number of virtual networks in the data network to which the operating system image requires access;
automatically selecting, with the controller, a host out of the plurality of hosts on which to boot the operating system image, the selecting being based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image;
booting, with the controller, the operating system image on the host;
configuring, with the controller, a switch out of the plurality of switches associated with the host based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image; and
configuring, with an agent executing in the operating system image, networking attributes of a network interface in the host based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image;
wherein, if the host includes a fewer number of physical network interfaces than the first number of virtual networks;
instantiating on the host a second of number of virtual network interfaces equal to the first number of virtual network in lieu of configuring the network attributes of the network interface; and
configuring layer 3 networking attributes of the second number of virtual network interfaces such that each of the second number of virtual network interfaces is communicatively coupled to a different one of the first number of virtual networks.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of configuring a data network with a controller, the data network including a plurality of hosts each associated with at least one of a plurality of switches, the method including receiving a request to boot an operating system image on one of the plurality of hosts, the operating system image having network connectivity requirements. Further, the method includes selecting a host out of the plurality of hosts on which to boot the operating system image. The method also includes booting the operating system image on the host, and configuring a switch out of the plurality of switches associated with the host based upon the network connectively requirements of the operating system image. Additionally, the method includes configuring networking attributes of a network interface in the host based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of configuring a data network with a controller, the data network including a plurality of hosts each associated with at least one of a plurality of switches, the method comprising:
-
receiving, at the controller, a request to boot an operating system image on one of the plurality of hosts, the operating system image having network connectivity requirements, wherein the receiving the request to boot the operating system image includes determining a first number of virtual networks in the data network to which the operating system image requires access; automatically selecting, with the controller, a host out of the plurality of hosts on which to boot the operating system image, the selecting being based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image; booting, with the controller, the operating system image on the host; configuring, with the controller, a switch out of the plurality of switches associated with the host based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image; and configuring, with an agent executing in the operating system image, networking attributes of a network interface in the host based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image; wherein, if the host includes a fewer number of physical network interfaces than the first number of virtual networks; instantiating on the host a second of number of virtual network interfaces equal to the first number of virtual network in lieu of configuring the network attributes of the network interface; and configuring layer 3 networking attributes of the second number of virtual network interfaces such that each of the second number of virtual network interfaces is communicatively coupled to a different one of the first number of virtual networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of configuring a data network with a controller, the data network including a plurality of hosts each associated with at least one of a plurality of switches and including a plurality of virtual networks associated with portions of the data network, the method comprising:
-
receiving, at the controller, a request to boot an operating system image on one of the plurality of hosts, the operating system image requiring network connectivity to a first number of the virtual networks; automatically selecting, with the controller, a host out of the plurality of hosts on which to boot the operating system image, the selecting including selecting a host with network connectivity to each of the first number of virtual networks; determining, with the controller, whether a second number of network interfaces in the host is less than the first number of virtual networks, each of the second number of network interfaces being coupled to a switch port on one of the plurality of switches; booting, with the controller, the operating system image on the host; configuring, if the second number of network interfaces is not less than the first number of virtual networks, the layer 3 networking attributes of the second number of network interfaces with an agent on the host such that each of the second number of network interfaces is communicatively coupled to one of the first number of virtual networks; and instantiating on the host, if the second number of network interfaces is less than the first number of virtual networks, a third of number of virtual network interfaces equal to the first number of virtual networks with the agent on the host, the instantiating including configuring the layer 3 networking attributes of the third number of virtual network interfaces such that each of the third number of virtual network interfaces is communicatively coupled to a different one of the first number of virtual networks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A data network management system for managing a data network that includes a plurality of hosts each associated with at least one of a plurality of switches and includes a plurality of virtual networks associated with portions of the data network, the system comprising:
-
a controller operable to; receive a request to boot an operating system image on one of the plurality of hosts, the operating system image requiring network connectivity to a first number of the virtual networks; automatically select a host out of the plurality of hosts on which to boot the operating system image, the selected host having network connectivity to each of the first number of virtual networks; determine whether a second number of network interfaces in the host is less than the first number of virtual networks, wherein each of the second number of network interfaces is coupled to a switch port on one of the plurality of switches; and boot the operating system image on the host, the operating system image including an operating system; an agent module configured to execute in the operating system on the host, the agent operable to; configure, if the second number of network interfaces is not less than the first number of virtual networks, the layer 3 networking attributes of the second number of network interfaces such that each of the second number of network interfaces is communicatively coupled to one of the first number of virtual networks; and instantiate, if the second number of network interfaces is less than the first number of virtual networks, a third of number of virtual network interfaces equal to the first number of virtual networks, and configure the layer 3 networking attributes of the third number of virtual network interfaces such that each of the third number of virtual network interfaces is communicatively coupled to a different one of the first number of virtual networks. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification