Method and system for network configuration for virtual machines

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software instructions for changing network configuration parameters, wherein the software instructions, when executed, perform a method, the method comprising:

• generating a first request to change a first network configuration parameter by a first virtual machine, wherein the first virtual machine is executing on a host, wherein the first request comprises a first new value for the first network configuration parameter;
• sending the first request to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) configuration database executing on the host,
• wherein the VNIC configuration database is associated with a first VNIC and a second VNIC,
• wherein the first VNIC is associated with the first virtual machine and is configured to send and receive network traffic associated with the first VNIC, and
• wherein the first VNIC is executing on the host and is not executing within the first virtual machine;
• updating the VNIC configuration database and the first VNIC to reflect the first new value for the first network configuration parameter;
• notifying the first virtual machine that the network configuration parameter has changed to the first new value for the network configuration parameter;
• generating a second request to change a second network configuration parameter by a second virtual machine executing on the host, wherein the second request comprises a second new value for the second network configuration parameter;
• sending the second request to the VNIC configuration database,
• wherein the second VNIC is associated with the second virtual machine and is configured to send and receive network traffic associated with the second VNIC, and
• wherein the second VNIC is executing on the host and is not executing within the second virtual machine;
• updating the VNIC configuration database and the second VNIC to reflect the second new value for the second network configuration parameter;
• and
• notifying the second virtual machine that the second network configuration parameter has changed to the second new value for the second network configuration parameter.

A host, comprising:

• a processor;
• a first virtual machine, executing on the processor, configured to:
• generate a first request to change a first network configuration parameter associated with the first virtual machine, wherein the first request comprises a first new value for the first network configuration parameter;
• and
• send the first request to a first virtual network interface card (VNIC), wherein the first VNIC is not executing within the first virtual machine;
• the first VNIC, operatively connected to the first virtual machine, configured to:
• receive the first request from the first virtual machine;
• and
• send the first request to a VNIC configuration database,
• wherein the first VNIC comprises functionality to send and receive network traffic;
• a second virtual machine, executing on the processor, configured to:
• generate a second request to change a second network configuration parameter associated with the second virtual machine, wherein the second request comprises a second new value for the second network configuration parameter;
• and
• send the second request to a second VNIC, wherein the second VNIC is not executing within the second virtual machine;
• the second VNIC, operatively connected to the second virtual machine, configured to:
• receive the second request from the second virtual machine;
• and
• send the second request to the VNIC configuration database,
• wherein the second VNIC comprises functionality to send and receive network traffic;
• the VNIC configuration database, operatively connected to the first VNIC and the second VNIC, configured to:
• receive the first request and the second request;
• determine, using the first request, whether the first virtual machine is allowed to change the first network configuration parameter;
• if the first virtual machine is allowed to change the first network configuration parameter:
• update the VNIC configuration database and first VNIC to reflect the first new value for the first network configuration parameter, and
• notify the first virtual machine that the requested change in the first network configuration parameter to the first new value for the first network configuration parameter is allowed;
• and
• if the first virtual machine is not allowed to change the first network configuration parameter:
• drop the first request;
• determine, using the second request, whether the second virtual machine is allowed to change the second network configuration parameter;
• if the second virtual machine is allowed to change the second network configuration parameter:
• update the VNIC configuration database and second VNIC to reflect the second new value for the second network configuration parameter, and
• notify the second virtual machine that the requested change in the second network configuration parameter to the second new value for the second network configuration parameter is allowed;
• and
• if the second virtual machine is not allowed to change the second network configuration parameter:
• drop the second request.