Patent ID: 7225239

Claim:
A method of connecting a system unit to a communications network, the method comprising: storing a first alternative network identity, a second alternative network identity, and one or more further network identities in the system unit; after initialization of the system unit, employing one of the first and second alternative network identities for communication with the network; allocating the one or more further network identities by the system unit to one or more further units of the network; providing an indication of which one of the first and second alternative network identities was employed after the initialization of the system unit; and wherein, when the system unit is moved from a first rack mountable shelf to a second rack mountable shelf of a server system, beginning a subsequent initialization of the system unit; during the subsequent initialization of the system unit, to prevent duplicate allocation of the one or more further network identities to components of the second rack mountable shelf, detecting which one of the first and second alternative network identities was employed after the initialization of the system unit, and employing the other one of the first and second alternative network identities during the subsequent initialization to interrogate the network to determine whether the one or more further network identities previously allocated are contactable on the network.