AUTOMATED NETWORK CONFIGURATION IN A DYNAMIC VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
In a computer-implemented method, a port profile is associated with a virtual machine that requires a VLAN connection to an external network through an edge port. The port profile includes a VLAN identification associated with the VLAN connection and an edge port identification associated with the edge port. The method further comprises migrating the virtual machine from a first physical server to a second physical server, wherein both the first and second physical servers are in communication with a network switch comprising the edge port. After migrating the virtual machine to the second physical server, the virtual machine is automatically provided with a VLAN connection to the external network in accordance with the port profile associated with the virtual machine. Similarly, a port profile may be associated with a virtual machine as it is created and deployed to a server, wherein the VLAN connection is configured according to the associated port profile.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable storage medium, the computer program product comprising:
computer usable program code for associating a port profile with a virtual machine that requires a VLAN connection to an external network through an edge port, wherein the port profile includes a VLAN identification associated with the VLAN connection and an edge port identification associated with the edge port;
computer usable program code for deploying the virtual machine to a target physical server, wherein the target physical server is in communication with a network switch comprising the edge port; and
computer usable program code for, after deploying the virtual machine to the target physical server, automatically providing the virtual machine with a VLAN connection to the external network in accordance with the port profile associated with the virtual machine.
12 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual machine is deployed to the target physical server during creation of the virtual machine.
13 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual machine is deployed to the target physical server as a result of migrating the virtual machine from a source physical server.
14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein both the target physical server and the source physical server are in communication with the same network switch comprising the edge port.
15 . The computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising:
computer usable program code for deconfiguring the VLAN connection to the source physical server.
16 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein automatically providing the virtual machine with a VLAN connection to the external network in accordance with the port profile associated with the virtual machine, includes automatically configuring a virtual switch on the target physical server in accordance with the port profile and automatically configuring ports necessary to provide communication between the virtual switch and the edge port.
17 . The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:
computer usable program code for automatically applying a media access controller (MAC) address to the virtual switch.
18 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the port profile includes a Layer 2 profile.
19 . The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:
computer usable program code for providing a list of predefined port attributes that are user-selectable for providing a new virtual machine with a network connection.
20 . The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:
computer usable program code for preventing the use of port attributes that are not on the list of predefined port attributes.