System and method for automated virtual network configuration

A method of configuring a data network, the data network including a controller, a virtualization host with a hypervisor installed thereon and, a plurality of virtual networks associated with portions of the data network, the method comprising:

• determining, with the controller, which virtual networks in the plurality of virtual networks each physical network interface in the virtualization host provides access to, the determining including forming a first set of physical network interfaces, wherein each physical network interface in the first set of physical network interfaces provides access to the same virtual networks;
• automatically creating, with the controller, a first virtual switch in the hypervisor, the first virtual switch corresponding to the first set of physical network interfaces;
• communicatively coupling, with the controller, the first virtual switch to each of the physical network interfaces in the first set of physical network interfaces;
• receiving a request, at the controller, to boot an operating system image in a virtual machine in the hypervisor, the operating system image requiring network connectivity to a first virtual network in the plurality of virtual networks;
• creating, with the controller, a first virtual port in the first virtual switch based upon the required connectivity of the operating system image to the first virtual network;
• creating, with the controller, a first virtual network adapter in the virtual machine in the hypervisor, the first virtual network adapter corresponding to the first virtual port;
• communicatively coupling, with the controller, the first virtual network adapter to the first virtual port in the first virtual switch;
• and
• configuring, with the controller, networking attributes of the first virtual network adapter in the virtual machine based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image.

A data network management system for managing a data network that includes a virtualization host with a hypervisor installed thereon and includes a plurality of virtual networks associated with portions of the data network, the system comprising:

• a controller operable to:
• determine which virtual networks in the plurality of virtual networks each physical network interface in the virtualization host provides access to and form a first set of physical network interfaces, wherein each physical network interface in the first set of physical network interfaces provides access to the same virtual networks;
• automatically create a first virtual switch in the hypervisor, the first virtual switch corresponding to the first set of physical network interfaces;
• communicatively couple the first virtual switch to each of the physical network interfaces in the first set of physical network interfaces;
• receive a request to boot an operating system image in a virtual machine in the hypervisor, the operating system image requiring network connectivity to a first virtual network in the plurality of virtual networks;
• create a first virtual port in the first virtual switch based upon the required connectivity of the operating system image to the first virtual network;
• create a first virtual network adapter in the virtual machine in the hypervisor, the first virtual network adapter corresponding to the first virtual port;
• communicatively couple the first virtual network adapter to the first virtual port in the first virtual switch;
• and
• configure networking attributes of the first virtual network adapter in the virtual machine based upon the network connectivity requirements of the operating system image.