Patent ID: 8040900

Claim:
In a network device having a random access memory, a non-volatile random access memory and a flash memory, a method comprising: operating in a network switch/router mode of operation; operating in a network adapter mode of operation; and switching to the network switch/router operation in response to receiving a device configuration signal, wherein switching comprises: enabling external ports of the network device; creating a pseudo internal port for the network device and assigning a media access control address to the pseudo internal port; modifying a routing table residing in the network device to update the routing table for external devices; providing an indication in the network device that the network device has been toggled to the network switcher/router mode of operation; and switching to the network adapter mode of operation, comprising: shutting down external ports of the network device; shutting down an internal port of the network device; enabling internal ports of the network device; and providing the indication in the network device that the network device has been toggled to the adapter operation.