# US 2020/0396181 A1 · Network service integration into a network fabric of a data center > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0396181 A1 - Document ID: US20200396181A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/695,734 - Filed: 2019-11-26 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-17 - Assignees: Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc. - Applicants: Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc. - Inventors: Jason Anthony LOCHHEAD; Manikandan SUBRAMANIAN; David HESS; Michael Andra BALLARD; Adam Scott WAYNE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200396181A1 ## CPC - H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - H04L 12/4625: {Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge} - H04L 12/4641: {Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272)} - H04L 12/5691: {Access to open networks; Ingress point selection, e.g. ISP selection} - H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04L 41/5009: Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF] - H04L 43/08: Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters - H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning - H04L 49/20: Support for services - H04L 49/354: for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN] - H04L 45/583: {Stackable routers} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a client device of a user is used to select various network service options. The service options correspond to services that can be provided to computing equipment of the user that is mounted in various racks of the data center. In response to receiving the selection of one or more service options, the network fabric of the data center is configured to connect the computing equipment to the selected services. In one approach, the network fabric is configured by creating and/or configuring one or more virtual networks to provide the connection to the services. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: causing, by a first computing device via a portal, a display in a user interface of a client device, wherein the display presents service options for selection, and each service option corresponds to a respective service provided over a network fabric of a data center; receiving, by the first computing device from the client device, a first selection of a first service provider that provides a first service; in response to receiving the first selection, sending, by the first computing device to a second computing device associated with the first service provider, first data regarding establishing a connection over the network fabric for providing access to the first service by a server mounted in a rack of the data center; receiving, by the first computing device from the second computing device, a confirmation to proceed with establishing the connection; in response to receiving the confirmation, creating at least one virtual network of the network fabric; and connecting the at least one virtual network to the server so that the server can access the first service. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one virtual network is created in conformance with the first data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the first computing device from the second computing device, a policy required by the second computing device when providing the first service. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one virtual network is created in conformance with the policy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring network performance associated with providing the first service. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising replacing, based on the monitoring, the at least one virtual network with one or more new virtual networks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving, from the second computing device, a performance standard associated with the at least one virtual network, wherein the monitoring determines a failure to meet the performance standard. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the service options comprise at least one of a storage service and a network service. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first service is a storage service implemented using storage hardware, the method further comprising allocating at least a portion of the storage hardware for storing data received from the server. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first service provides internet connectivity to the server. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein creating the at least one virtual network comprises creating a first virtual network, the method further comprising: prior to receiving the first selection, receiving, from the second computing device, a request to create a second virtual network; in response to receiving the request, creating the second virtual network; and in response to receiving the confirmation, connecting the first virtual network to the second virtual network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is configured to communicate, over a network external to the data center, configuration data to the second computing device, and wherein the first service is provided in conformance with the configuration data. ### Claim 13 A system comprising: at least one processing device; and memory containing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processing device to: cause a display in a user interface of a client device, wherein the display presents service options for selection, and each service option corresponds to a respective service provided over a network fabric of a data center; receive, from the client device, a first selection of a first service provider that provides a first service; in response to receiving the first selection, send, to a server associated with the first service provider, data regarding establishing a connection over the network fabric for providing access to the first service by a computing device mounted in a rack of the data center; receive, from the server, a confirmation to proceed with establishing the connection; in response to receiving the confirmation, create a virtual network of the network fabric; and connect the virtual network to the computing device so that the computing device can access the first service. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processing device to: configure a top-of-rack (TOR) switch to connect the virtual network to the TOR switch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processing device to: receive, from the client device, a request to configure the TOR switch for connecting the computing device to the network fabric; and in response to receiving the request, automatically configure the TOR switch to connect the computing device to the virtual network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the request comprises a request to provide an internet connection for the computing device, and wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processing device to automatically configure the TOR switch to provide internet connectivity to the computing device via the virtual network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein providing the internet connectivity comprises connecting the computing device to a carrier or internet service provider via the virtual network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processing device to connect, by configuring the network fabric, the virtual network to a service provider that provides access for the computing device to internet protocol services. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first service is a storage service implemented using storage hardware, and wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processing device to allocate at least a portion of the storage hardware for storing data received from the computing device. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to at least: cause a display in a user interface of a client device associated with a server mounted in a rack of a data center, wherein the display presents service options for selection, and each service option corresponds to a respective service provided over a network fabric of the data center; receive, from the client device, a first selection of a first service provider that provides a first service; in response to receiving the first selection, send, to a computing device associated with the first service provider, data regarding establishing a connection over the network fabric; receive, from the computing device, a confirmation to proceed with establishing the connection; in response to receiving the confirmation, create at least one virtual network of the network fabric; and connect the at least one virtual network to the server so that the server can access the first service.