Port management system

A machine-implemented method for automatically provisioning a switch in a network, the method comprising:

• storing a command on a storage medium in a switch having a port configuration, the command having variables including at least one of a common variable, an end user profile variable, a device profile variable, and a session variable, and, when executed on a processor on the switch, changing the port configuration of a port on the switch;
• associating a defined network event with the command, the defined network event associated with an end user connecting to the network and a device connecting to the network;
• further storing, on the storage medium in the switch, current values of variables referenced in the command, the current values determined either prior to or upon an occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command;
• detecting in the network the occurrence of the defined network event, the defined network event having been previously associated with the command stored on the storage medium in the switch;
• receiving in an input interface on the switch a message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event to the switch;
• determining the current value of referenced variables prior to the occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command;
• determining the current value of referenced variables upon the occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command;
• preparing the command for execution in accordance with the determined values of the referenced variables;
• executing the prepared command in the processor on the switch in response to receiving the message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event, wherein executing the prepared command in the processor on the switch includes:
• evaluating an expression present in the control structure in the command, the control structure to modify the command's execution based on the evaluated expression;
• modifying the command execution to change the port configuration in accordance with the evaluated expression;
• and
• changing the port configuration of the port on the switch in accordance with the determined values of the referenced variables and the evaluated expression.