Patent ID: 7860955

Claim:
A method of monitoring and controlling self-configuring IP addressable devices in an IP connected system comprising: connecting a first power distribution unit to an external network manager via a communication protocol; assigning an IP address to said first power distribution unit, said first power distribution unit configuring itself as a master device based on the connection to the external network manager, said IP address allowing said external network manager to address communications specifically to said first power distribution unit; publishing a first sub-node IP address from the first power distribution unit; connecting a second power distribution unit to said first power distribution unit such that said second power distribution unit obtains said first sub-node IP address, said second power distribution unit configuring itself as a slave device based on the connection to the first power distribution unit, said first sub-node IP address allowing said external network manager to address communications specifically to said second power distribution unit; wherein each of said first power distribution unit and said second power distribution unit is self-configurable as a master device and as a slave device, such that the second power distribution unit reconfigures itself as a master device when connected to the external network manager and assigned the IP address, and the first power distribution unit reconfigures itself as a slave device when connected to the second power distribution unit and obtaining the first sub-node IP address; publishing a second sub-node IP address from said second power distribution unit; and connecting a third power distribution unit to said second power distribution unit such that said third power distribution unit obtains said second sub-node IP address, said third power distribution unit configuring itself as a slave device based on the connection to the second power distribution unit, said second sub-node IP address allowing said external network manager to address communications specifically to said third power distribution unit; wherein the third power distribution unit is self-configurable as a master device and as a slave device, such that said third power distribution unit reconfigures itself as a master device when connected to the external network manager and assigned the IP address, and the second power distribution unit further reconfigures itself as a master device based on the connection to the third power distribution unit, such that said second power distribution unit is configured as both a master device to the third power distribution unit and a slave device to the first power distribution unit.