Patent ID: 8631136

Claim:
A method, comprising: providing a bi-directional transition path for profiles having varying levels of service parameters and rules for traversing the bi-directional transition path during evaluation of a port; gathering a set of performance data for the port provisioned with one of the profiles, the profile defined by parameters with associated metrics used to establish a level of service for the port; analyzing the set of performance data in light of the parameters in the profile, and determining a current performance level of the port from results of the analyzing; iteratively performing a set of actions using the current performance level as a baseline until a maximum performance level for the port is realized, the set of actions comprising: incrementally adjusting one of the parameters, the adjusting including increasing a data rate in the profile when the current performance level exceeds a defined threshold level; determining another set of performance data in response to the adjusting; and evaluating the other set of performance data to determine a new performance level; and using results of the evaluating to determine a direction in the bi-directional transition path, and traversing the bi-directional transition path in the direction by evaluating the port using another of the profiles in the bi-directional transition path.