Patent ID: 7624164
Filing Date: 2009-11-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method executing on a first hardware network node for retrieving a network configuration from a second network node, the first hardware network node initially without a network address, the method comprising: provoking a response from at least one other network node, the response expected to contain network address information other than an address assignment to the first hardware network node in response to a provocation; determining an available network address based on the network address information contained in the response provoked from the at least one other network node; assigning the available network address to the first hardware network node; locating a network address for at least one router by causing an error response capable of being elicited from a router and not other network nodes; accessing the second network node for an available network configuration from a list of network configurations by using the located network address for the at least one router; and assigning the available network configuration to the first hardware network node.