User interface for managing a distributed virtual switch

Abstract

A user interface for managing allocations of network resources in a virtualized computing environment provides a graphical overview of the virtual computing environment that allows the user to visualize the virtual network, including the connections between the virtual network adapters and the uplink port groups that provide physical network resources for the virtual machines included in the virtualized computing environment. The user interface also provides graphical elements that allow the user to modify the virtual network, to migrate virtual machines from individual virtual switches to a distributed virtual switch, and/or to modify the arrangement of physical network adapters that provide network backing for the virtual machines. By providing these features, the user interface according to one or more embodiments of the present invention can allow the user to efficiently and safely manage the virtual network in the virtual computing environment.

1 . A graphical user interface for a virtualized computing environment including a plurality of host computers, each having one or more virtual machines running therein and configured with a distributed virtual switch for managing network resources associated with the one or more virtual machines, said graphical user interface comprising:
 a first section for organizing the one or more virtual machines running on the plurality of host computers;   a second section for organizing one or more physical network adapters included in the plurality of host computers into one or more uplink port groups that each define a set of physical network adapters that provide physical network resources for a set of virtual machines; and   a third section corresponding to the distributed virtual switch that illustrates logical connections between the one or more virtual machines and the one or more uplink port groups.   
     
     
         2 . The graphical user interface of  claim 1 , wherein each uplink port group includes at least one physical network adapter from each of the plurality of host computers. 
     
     
         3 . The graphical user interface of  claim 1 , wherein a first physical network adapter is automatically associated with a first uplink port group based on an uplink profile that defines which physical network adapters are assigned to which uplink port group. 
     
     
         4 . The graphical user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth section that allows a user to modify which physical network adapters are associated with which uplink port groups. 
     
     
         5 . The graphical user interface of  claim 1 , further including a fourth section that includes an indication that one or more virtual machines are not logically connected to the distributed virtual switch. 
     
     
         6 . The graphical user interface of  claim 5 , wherein the indication is a status bar or textual indication. 
     
     
         7 . The graphical user interface of  claim 5 , further including a fifth section that includes a list of the one or more virtual machines that are not logically connected to the distributed virtual switch, wherein a user can select a set of virtual machines from the list of one or more virtual machines and cause the virtual machines included in the set of virtual machines to become logically connected to the distributed virtual switch. 
     
     
         8 . The graphical user interface of  claim 1 , wherein a selection of a first virtual machine from the first section causes one or more physical network adapters included in the second section that are logically connected to the first virtual machine to be displayed with visual distinction. 
     
     
         9 . The graphical user interface of  claim 1 , wherein a selection of a first physical network adapter from the second section causes one or more virtual machines included in the first section that are logically connected to the first physical network adapter to be displayed with visual distinction. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed in a computing device, enable a graphical user interface to be displayed, wherein the graphical user interface is for a virtualized computing environment including a plurality of host computers, each having one or more virtual machines running therein and configured with a distributed virtual switch for managing network resources associated with the one or more virtual machines, said graphical user interface comprising:
 a first section for organizing the one or more virtual machines running on the plurality of host computers;   a second section for organizing one or more physical network adapters included in the plurality of host computers into one or more uplink port groups that each define a set of physical network adapters that provide physical network resources for a set of virtual machines; and   a third section corresponding to the distributed virtual switch that illustrates logical connections between the one or more virtual machines and the one or more uplink port groups.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein each uplink port group includes at least one physical network adapter from each of the plurality of host computers. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein a first physical network adapter is automatically associated with a first uplink port group based on an uplink profile that defines which physical network adapters are assigned to which uplink port group. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface further includes a fourth section that allows a user to modify which physical network adapters are associated with which uplink port groups. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface further includes a fourth section that includes an indication that one or more virtual machines are not logically connected to the distributed virtual switch. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the indication is a status bar or textual indication. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , further including a fifth section that includes a list of the one or more virtual machines that are not logically connected to the distributed virtual switch, wherein a user can select a set of virtual machines from the list of one or more virtual machines and cause the virtual machines included in the set of virtual machines to become logically connected to the distributed virtual switch. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein a selection of a first virtual machine from the first section causes one or more physical network adapters included in the second section that are logically connected to the first virtual machine to be displayed with visual distinction. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein a selection of a first physical network adapter from the second section causes one or more virtual machines included in the first section that are logically connected to the first physical network adapter to be displayed with visual distinction. 
     
     
         19 . A method for configuring a virtualized computing environment including a plurality of host computers, each having one or more virtual machines running therein and configured with a distributed virtual switch for managing network resources associated with the one or more virtual machines, said method comprising:
 designating one or more uplink port groups to be associated with the distributed virtual switch, wherein each of the one or more uplink port groups provides physical network resources for a set of virtual machines;   designating one or more physical network adapters included in the plurality of host computers to be associated with each of the one or more uplink port groups; and   establishing a logical connection between one or more virtual machines executing on the plurality of host computers and the one or more uplink port groups.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 modifying a management policy setting of a first physical network adapter included in a first uplink port group; and   causing an indication that said management policy setting was previously set at an uplink port group level to be displayed.