Abstract: A method includes: determining a configuration of one or more networked hardware components; determining a usage level associated with one or more of the networked hardware components; determining a functional category of one or more of the networked hardware components based at least in part on the configuration of the one or more networked hardware components and the usage level associated with the one or more networked hardware components; and one or more of: outputting a suggested configuration of one or more of the networked hardware components based on the determined functional category of the one or more networked hardware components; and configuring of one or more of the networked hardware components based on the determined functional category of the one or more networked hardware components. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for a method, device and computer program product for auto-configuring computing devices disposed in a network environment based upon a relative location of each of the computing devices. The method includes broadcasting into an electromagnetic near field from at least two surface positions of a computing device an identification and position of a corresponding one of the surface positions. The method further includes receiving in a receiver disposed on at least one of the surface positions, an identification of another computing device, and a corresponding position from which the identification had been broadcast. The method yet further includes repeating the broadcasting and receiving in other computing devices and determining in each of the other computing devices a position relative to another of the devices. Finally, the method includes establishing a device configuration in each of the computing devices based upon a correspondingly determined relative position.

Abstract: Network devices, like switches, selectively store network addresses of data packets received at their interfaces within forwarding tables. A management device determines workload devices related to a workload. The management device determines the network devices through which network traffic related to the workload among the workload devices traverses, and the network devices through which network traffic related to the workload among the workload devices does not traverse. The management device causes each network device to store or not store the network addresses of the workload devices depending on whether network traffic among the workload device traverses therethrough.

Abstract: A method includes: determining a configuration of one or more networked hardware components; determining a usage level associated with one or more of the networked hardware components; determining a functional category of one or more of the networked hardware components based at least in part on the configuration of the one or more networked hardware components and the usage level associated with the one or more networked hardware components; and one or more of: outputting a suggested configuration of one or more of the networked hardware components based on the determined functional category of the one or more networked hardware components; and configuring of one or more of the networked hardware components based on the determined functional category of the one or more networked hardware components. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Network devices, like switches, selectively store network addresses of data packets received at their interfaces within forwarding tables. A management device determines workload devices related to a workload. The management device determines the network devices through which network traffic related to the workload among the workload devices traverses, and the network devices through which network traffic related to the workload among the workload devices does not traverse. The management device causes each network device to store or not store the network addresses of the workload devices depending on whether network traffic among the workload device traverses therethrough.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for a method, device and computer program product for auto-configuring computing devices disposed in a network environment based upon a relative location of each of the computing devices. The method includes broadcasting into an electromagnetic near field from at least two surface positions of a computing device an identification and position of a corresponding one of the surface positions. The method further includes receiving in a receiver disposed on at least one of the surface positions, an identification of another computing device, and a corresponding position from which the identification had been broadcast. The method yet further includes repeating the broadcasting and receiving in other computing devices and determining in each of the other computing devices a position relative to another of the devices. Finally, the method includes establishing a device configuration in each of the computing devices based upon a correspondingly determined relative position.