Patent ID: 7385966

Claim:
A method for the automatic configuration of a determined device of a packet switching data transmission network on which are defined at least one first virtual subnet for network devices of a first type and at least one second virtual subnet for network devices of a second type, said determined device being physically connected to any one of said first and second virtual subnets and belonging to any one of said first and second types, the method comprising the steps wherein the device performs the steps of: broadcasting over the virtual subnet to which it is physically connected, a first lease request comprising an identifier of the type to which it belongs; receiving, in response to said first lease request, a first lease containing an address on the virtual subnet to which it is physically connected, an identifier of the virtual subnet of the devices of the type to which it belongs, and, if it does not belong to the type of the devices of the virtual subnet to which it is connected, a cue for activating tagging of the frames with said identifier; if said first lease contains said tagging activation cue: releasing said first lease; broadcasting over the virtual subnet of the devices of the type to which it belongs, a second lease request tagged with said identifier of the virtual subnet of the devices of the type to which it belongs; and receiving, in response to said second lease request, a second lease containing an address on the virtual subnet of the devices of the type to which it belongs; otherwise retaining said first lease.