System and method for input/output virtualization using virtualized switch aggregation zones

1. A network switch, comprising:

a first network port;

a second network port; and

a first port virtualization module associated with the first network port, the first port virtualization module operable to:

determine that a first device coupled to the first network port includes a first virtual network interface; and

provide a second virtual network interface on the first network port, the second virtual network interface being associated with the first virtual network interface;

wherein the network switch is operable to provide a first aggregation zone including the second network port, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface.

2. The network switch of claim 1 , wherein further:

the first port virtualization module is operable to:

determine that a second device coupled to the first network port includes a third virtual network interface; and

provide a fourth virtual network interface on the first network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and

the network switch is operable to add the third virtual network interface and the fourth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

3. The network switch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third network port;

a fourth network port; and

a second port virtualization module associated with the third network port, the second port virtualization module operable to:

determine that a second device coupled to the third network port includes a third virtual network interface; and

provide a fourth virtual network interface on the third network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface;

wherein the network switch is further operable to provide a second aggregation zone including the fourth network port, the third virtual network interface, and the fourth virtual network interface.

4. The network switch of claim 3 , wherein further:

the second port virtualization module is operable to:

determine that a third device coupled to the third network port includes a fifth virtual network interface; and

provide a sixth virtual network interface on the third network port, the sixth virtual network interface being associated with the fifth virtual network interface;

wherein the network switch is further operable add the fifth virtual network interface and the sixth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

5. The network switch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third network port;

wherein the network switch is further operable to add the third network port to the first aggregation zone.

6. The network switch of claim 1 , wherein the first virtual network interface is a virtual network interface card, and the second virtual network interface is a virtual port.

7. The network switch of claim 1 , wherein the first virtual network interface is a first virtual local area network and the second virtual network interface is a second virtual local area network.

8. The network switch of claim 7 , wherein the second network port includes a third virtual local area network.

9. The network switch of claim 8 , wherein the first and second virtual local area networks are source virtual local area networks, and the third virtual local area network is a client virtual local area network.

10. A method of providing aggregation zones in a network switch, comprising:

determining, at the network switch, that a first device coupled to a first network port of the network switch includes a first virtual network interface;

providing a second virtual network interface on the first network port, the second virtual network interface being associated with the first virtual network interface;

providing a first aggregation zone on the network switch, the first aggregation zone including a second network port of the network switch, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface; and

configuring the first virtual network interface and the second virtual network interface based upon a configuration of the second network port.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that a second device coupled to the first network port includes a third virtual network interface;

providing a fourth virtual network interface on the first network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and

adding the third virtual network interface and the fourth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that a second device coupled to a third network port of the network switch includes a third virtual network interface;

providing a fourth virtual network interface on the third network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and

providing a second aggregation zone on the network switch, the second aggregation zone including a fourth network port of the network switch, the third virtual network interface, and the fourth virtual network interface.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining that a third device coupled to the third network port includes a fifth virtual network interface;

providing a sixth virtual network interface on the third network port, the sixth virtual network interface being associated with the fifth virtual network interface; and

adding the fifth virtual network interface and the sixth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

adding a third network port of the network switch to the first aggregation zone.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first virtual network interface is a virtual network interface card, and the second virtual network interface is a virtual port.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the first virtual network interface is a first virtual local area network;

the second virtual network interface is a second virtual local area network; and

the second port includes a third virtual local area network.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first and second virtual local area networks are source virtual local area networks, and the third virtual local area network is a client virtual local area network.

18. A non-transitory storage medium including instructions for carrying out a method, the method comprising:

determining that a first device coupled to a first network port of the network switch includes a first virtual network interface;

providing a second virtual network interface on the first network port, the second virtual network interface being associated with the first virtual network interface; and

providing a first aggregation zone on the network switch, the first aggregation zone including a second network port of the network switch, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface.

19. The storage medium of claim 18 , the method further comprising:

determining that a second device coupled to the first network port includes a third virtual network interface;

providing a fourth virtual network interface on the first network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and

adding the third virtual network interface and the fourth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

20. The storage medium of claim 18 , the method further comprising:

determining that a second device coupled to a third network port of the network switch includes a third virtual network interface;

providing a fourth virtual network interface on the third network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and

providing a second aggregation zone on the network switch, the second aggregation zone including a fourth network port of the network switch, the third virtual network interface, and the fourth virtual network interface.