Patent ID: 7710903

Claim:
An intermediate network device for use in a computer network having a plurality of network entities, the intermediate network device comprising: a plurality of interfaces that are in communicating relationship with respective ones of the network entities; one or more protocols for sending and receiving data messages from the plurality of interfaces; a discovery entity coupled to the plurality of interfaces that detects an identity of the respective ones of the network entities that are in communicating relationship with corresponding ones of the plurality of interfaces; a floating port configuration entity coupled to the discovery entity; and a plurality of configuration information sets accessible by the floating port configuration entity for use in configuring the plurality of interfaces, wherein the floating port configuration entity retrieves a selected configuration information set for use with a given interface based on the identity of the network entity which was detected as being in communicating relationship with the given interface, and executes and applies the selected configuration information set at the given interface, and wherein the one or more protocols delay sending and receiving data messages from the given interface until the selected configuration information set is executed and applied.