The deployment of new network architectures, services, and protocols is often manual, ad-hoc and time consuming. In this paper we introduce "spawning networks", a new class of programmable networks that automate the life cycle process for the creation, deployment and management of network architectures. These networks are capable of spawning distinct "child" virtual networks with their own transport, control and management systems. A child network operates on a subset of its "parent's" network resources and in isolation from other spawned networks. Spawned child networks represent programmable virtual networks and support the controlled access to communities of users with specific connectivity, security and quality of service requirements.

In this talk we present a framework for the realization of spawning networks based on the notion of the Genesis Kernel, a virtual network operating system capable of creating distinct virtual network architectures on-the-fly. We discuss the motivation and principles that underpin spawning networks and focus on the design of the transport, programming and life cycle environments, which comprise the main architectural components of the Genesis Kernel.