Patent ID: 7886027

Claim:
A method of activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations, the method comprising: configuring an end node with a first and a second IP configuration for a network interface of the end node, wherein the first IP configuration includes a first IP address, the second IP configuration is suitable for IP communications between directly connected end nodes, and the second IP configuration includes a second IP address of the end node; detecting a change in a connection of the network interface of the end node from a direct connection between the network interface of the end node and a first other node to a direct IP connection between the network interface of the end node and a second other node, the second other node comprising an end node, each direct IP connection via a cable extending from the end node to another node; automatically switching from the first IP configuration for the network interface to the second IP configuration for the network interface, the switching comprising switching from the first IP address to the second IP address, the switching based upon the detection; and communicating with the second other node through the cable extending from the end node to the second other node via the network interface and via the second IP configuration, the communicating using the second IP address.