Physical Network Orchestration for Touchless Data Center Provisioning

The patent introduces a physical network orchestrator as an intermediary component that bridges cloud orchestration software and physical network devices. This orchestrator receives virtual network information from cloud orchestration tools, translates it into physical network configurations, and automatically provisions physical networks accordingly. The intermediary handles the complexity of coordination between virtual and physical layers, enabling automation without modifying existing cloud orchestration software.

The patent merges the provisioning of virtual and physical networks into a coordinated process. The physical network orchestrator correlates virtual network information (such as virtual switch IDs, port mappings, and network topology) with physical network devices, enabling simultaneous provisioning of both layers. This combination eliminates the need for separate manual provisioning processes while maintaining operational simplicity through automated correlation and configuration.

The patent implements preliminary action by having the physical network orchestrator pre-configure physical network devices based on anticipated virtual network provisioning requirements. When cloud orchestration tools initiate virtual network creation, the orchestrator has already prepared the corresponding physical network configurations, enabling touchless provisioning. This preliminary preparation reduces provisioning time while managing integration complexity through automated pre-correlation of virtual and physical network parameters.