Logical switch

Abstract

Configuring third party solutions to operate with virtual machines and virtual switches in a distributed network environment. The method includes receiving information at a logical switch about third party solutions in a distributed network. The method further includes receiving information at the logical switch about requirements for virtual components of the distributed network. The method further includes the logical switch automatically configuring third party solutions in the distributed network to meet the requirements for the virtual components of the distributed network.

What is claimed is:   
     
       1. A computer-implemented method of configuring third party solutions to operate with virtual machines in a distributed network environment, the computer-implemented method being performed by one or more processors when executing computer executable instructions for implementing the method, and wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
 monitoring at a server configured as a virtual machine monitor a plurality of requirements for virtual components of physical host machines running at a datacenter,
 each physical host machine being connected to a physical switch, and 
 each physical host machine running one or more virtual machines that are connected to one another at the physical host machine and to other host components through a virtual switch that connects to other virtual machines on the physical host machine or other components on other host components by the physical switch; 
 
 providing a single virtual switch across the physical host machines running at a datacenter, physical host machines being connected to the logical switch through one or more of the virtual switches at the virtual machines running at the physical hosts, 
 wherein the single virtual switch coordinates network connectivity and policy management across all physical host machines connected to the single virtual switch by performing the following:
 receiving information at the single virtual switch about one or more third party solutions based on network services comprising both third party software and hardware device solutions across all said physical host machines connected to the single virtual switch; 
 receiving information at the single virtual switch about said requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines; and 
 based on the information received about the one or more third party solutions and the requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines, the single virtual switch automatically configuring at least one of the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components of at least one physical host machine at which one or more virtual machines are deployed on behalf of the at least one third party solution. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the various levels of the configured function of the single virtual switch comprises at least one of:
 a configuration to interact with the third party solutions by using a plugin; 
 configuring lost level extensions with drivers installed at the physical host machines; 
 configuring interface extensions that can be plugged into a user interface portion of the virtual machine monitor; and 
 configuring the virtual machine monitor with native hardware for one or more application program interfaces (APIs) that communicate natively to the third party solutions. 
 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving information at the single virtual switch about the third party solutions is performed by receiving at the single virtual switch configuration metadata from a network administrator. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving information at the single virtual switch about the requirements for virtual components comprises receiving information about the requirements for virtual components in the form of metadata from a network administrator. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the single virtual switch automatically configuring the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components comprises the single virtual switch directly configuring third party solutions by communicating with the third party solutions using native third party solution protocols. 
     
     
       6. The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein communicating with third party solutions using third party solution protocols comprises the single virtual switch communicating using a plug-in that enables the plug-in to communicate directly with third party solutions in the third party solution's native protocol. 
     
     
       7. The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein communicating with third party solutions using third party solution protocols comprises the single virtual switch communicating directly with third party solutions using application program interfaces (APIs) exposed by the third party solutions. 
     
     
       8. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the third party solution comprises a top of rack (TOR) switch. 
     
     
       9. In a distributed computing environment, a system for configuring third party solutions to operate with virtual machines in a distributed network environment, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more computer readable devices containing computer executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the system to perform the following computer-implemented method:
 monitoring at a server configured as a virtual machine monitor a plurality of requirements for virtual components of physical host machines running at a datacenter,
 each physical host machine being connected to a physical switch, and 
 each physical host machine running one or more virtual machines that are connected to one another at the physical host machine and to other host components through a virtual switch that connects to other virtual machines on the physical host machine or other components on other host components by the physical switch; 
 
 providing a single virtual switch across the physical host machines running at a datacenter, physical host machines being connected to the logical switch through one or more of the virtual switches at the virtual machines running at the physical hosts, 
 wherein the single virtual switch coordinates network connectivity and policy management across all physical host machines connected to the single virtual switch by performing the following:
 receiving information at the single virtual switch about one or more third party solutions based on network services comprising both third party software and hardware device solutions across all said physical host machines connected to the single virtual switch; 
 receiving information at the single virtual switch about said requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines; and 
 based on the information received about the one or more third party solutions and the requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines, the single virtual switch automatically configuring at least one of the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components of at least one physical host machine at which one or more virtual machines are deployed on behalf of the at least one third party solution. 
 
 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the various levels of the configured function of the single virtual switch comprises at least one of:
 a configuration to interact with the third party solutions by using a plugin; 
 configuring lost level extensions with drivers installed at the physical host machines; 
 configuring interface extensions that can be plugged into a user interface portion of the virtual machine monitor; and 
 configuring the virtual machine monitor with native hardware APIs that communicate natively to the third party solutions. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein receiving information at the single virtual switch about the third party solutions is performed by receiving at the single virtual switch configuration metadata from a network administrator. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein receiving information at the single virtual switch about the requirements for virtual components comprises receiving information about the requirements for virtual components in the form of metadata from a network administrator. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the single virtual switch automatically configuring the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components comprises the single virtual switch directly configuring third party solutions by communicating with the third party solutions using native third party solution protocols. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein communicating with third party solutions using third party solution protocols comprises the single virtual switch communicating using a plug-in that enables the plug-in to communicate directly with third party solutions in the third party solution's native protocol. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9 , wherein communicating with third party solutions using third party solution protocols comprises the single virtual switch communicating directly with third party solutions using application program interfaces (APIs) exposed by the third party solutions. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the third party solution comprises a top of rack (TOR) switch. 
     
     
       17. A computing system comprising:
 a server comprising a virtual machine monitor that monitors a plurality of requirements for virtual components of physical host machines running at a datacenter,
 each physical host machine being connected to a physical switch, and 
 each physical host machine running one or more virtual machines that are connected to one another at the physical host machine and to other host components through a virtual switch that connects to other virtual machines on the physical host machine or other components on other host components by the physical switch; 
 
 a single virtual switch across the physical host machines running at the datacenter, physical host machines being connected to the logical switch through one or more of the virtual switches at the virtual machines running at the physical hosts, 
 wherein the single virtual switch coordinates network connectivity and policy management across all physical host machines connected to the single virtual switch by performing the following:
 receiving information at the single virtual switch about one or more third party solutions based on network services comprising both third party software and hardware device solutions across all said physical host machines connected to the single virtual switch; 
 receiving information at the single virtual switch about said requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines; and 
 based on the information received about the one or more third party solutions and the requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines, the single virtual switch automatically configuring at least one of the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components of at least one physical host machine at which one or more virtual machines are deployed on behalf of the at least one third party solution. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein receiving information at the single virtual switch about the third party solutions is performed by receiving at the single virtual switch configuration metadata from a network administrator, and wherein receiving information at the single virtual switch about the requirements for virtual components comprises receiving information about the requirements for virtual components in the form of metadata from a network administrator. 
     
     
       19. The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the single virtual switch automatically configuring the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components comprises the single virtual switch directly configuring third party solutions by communicating with the third party solutions using native third party solution protocols. 
     
     
       20. The computing system of  claim 19 , wherein communicating with third party solutions using third party solution protocols comprises at least one of the following:
 the single virtual switch communicating using a plug-in that enables the plug-in to communicate directly with third party solutions in the third party solution's native protocol; and 
 the single virtual switch communicating directly with third party solutions using application program interfaces (APIs) exposed by the third party solutions. 
 
     
     
       21. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors when executing computer executable instructions for implementing the method, and wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
 receiving information at a logical switch about one or more third party solutions based on network services comprising both third party software and hardware device solutions across a plurality of physical host machines connected to the logical switch; 
 wherein each physical host machine runs one or more virtual machines that are connected to one another at the physical host machine and to other host components through a virtual switch that connects to other virtual machines on the physical host machine or other components on other host components by a physical switch; 
 receiving information at the logical switch about said requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines; and 
 based on the information received about the one or more third party solutions and the requirements for virtual components of the physical host machines, the logical switch automatically configuring at least one of the third party solutions to meet the requirements of the virtual components of at least one physical host machine at which one or more virtual machines are deployed on behalf of the at least one third party solution.