Patent ID: 7725921

Claim:
A method for managing networks, comprising: providing a plurality of network templates that are each associated with a different network topology and include parameters for implementing the associated network topology; selecting at least one of the plurality of network templates, wherein each of the plurality of network templates includes multiple security policies for a user to select, wherein the multiple security policies are tested for compatibility prior to selection and provide varying levels of security and network performance; configuring a network device or providing a wizard utility for inputting information to implement the network topology associated with the selected network template based, at least in part, on the parameters, the wizard utility including an address range area to show an address range for the selected network template; displaying the parameters associated with the selected network template to the user; and presenting a secondary wizard utility for guiding the user in customizing the selected network template, the secondary wizard utility is further to: query the user for network addresses to be used for one or more networks in each of the one or more selected network templates; and present the user with a selection of security policies tailored for the one or more selected network templates by displaying a policy selection area to present available security policies and a policy description area to provide information that describes each security policy.