Patent ID: 8639783

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a port configuration policy at a distributed virtual switch, the distributed virtual switch in communication with a management station and a plurality of servers each comprising at least one virtual machine comprising at least one virtual interface; creating at the distributed virtual switch, a port profile for said port configuration policy, said port profile defining a common set of configuration policies for automatic application to one or more of said virtual interfaces as said virtual interfaces come online in a virtual environment; transmitting from the distributed virtual switch, said port profile to a management station operable to receive input mapping said port profile to one or more of said virtual interfaces; receiving at the distributed virtual switch, said mapping from the management station; configuring said one or more virtual interfaces according to said port configuration policy of said port profile; wherein receiving said port configuration policy comprises receiving input from a first user and wherein said mapping input at the management station comprises input received at the management station from a second user, the management station independent from the distributed virtual switch, and wherein at least two of said virtual interfaces at the same said virtual machine are mapped to different port profiles.