Abstract: A network comprises a plurality of network nodes. Each network node has a unique node identifier within the context of the network and stores a table of nodes. The table of nodes includes at least one table entry. The table entry includes three fields—a destination node field, a next node field and a cost field. The destination field is a unique node identifier corresponding to another node in the network. The next node is a unique node identifier corresponding to the next node in the communication path to the destination node. The cost field is the cost associated with communication with the network node. When a node is added to the network, it detects the presence of adjacent nodes. The new node obtains the table of nodes stored in each adjacent node and uses the information contained in the node tables to updates its own node table, thereby obtaining information for communicating with every other node in the network.