Abstract: A network (e.g. cloud or enterprise network) includes servers (110) and switches (120) each of which has multiple ports. A bare-metal server's ports are configured for different roles, e.g. management role or data role. The configuration is at least partially automated using a blueprint (340) which does not necessarily specify the roles for the server ports, but may associate a role with a network parameter, e.g. Maximum Transfer Unit (MTU) or QoS. A management computer (320) obtains, from switches, (i) network parameters configured on switch ports, and (ii) MAC addresses for the adjacent server ports. The management computer matches the blueprint's parameters with the switch ports' parameters, and associates matched parameters with the roles specified by the blueprint. These roles are configured on the corresponding server ports. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: A network (e.g. cloud or enterprise network) includes servers (110) and switches (120) each of which has multiple ports. A bare-metal server's ports are configured for different roles, e.g. management role or data role. The configuration is at least partially automated using a blueprint (340) which does not necessarily specify the roles for the server ports, but may associate a role with a network parameter, e.g. Maximum Transfer Unit (MTU) or QoS. A management computer (320) obtains, from switches, (i) network parameters configured on switch ports, and (ii) MAC addresses for the adjacent server ports. The management computer matches the blueprint's parameters with the switch ports' parameters, and associates matched parameters with the roles specified by the blueprint. These roles are configured on the corresponding server ports. Other features are also provided.