Patent ID: 7733802

Claim:
A method for dynamically creating a new virtual network with automated configuration for the new virtual network to function, comprising: (a) receiving a request by a network controller for creating the new virtual network, wherein the request is sent by a network node; (b) determining a configuration of at least one network switch for the new virtual network by the network controller using information provided by a source other than the network node that sent the request, wherein the configuration comprises a new virtual network name for the new virtual network; (c) automatically creating the new virtual network by the network controller by configuring the at least one network switch according to the configuration without configuring the network node; and (d) in response to creating the new virtual network, sending a reply from the network controller to the network node that sent the request, wherein the new virtual network includes the network node that sent the request after the network node receives the reply, wherein after receiving the reply, the network node sends packets for the new virtual network using the new virtual network name to the configured network switch.