Abstract: A method to automatically configure a network device is provided. Without user intervention, configuration messages are generated and transmitted on physical interfaces associated with the network device. Acknowledgements to the configuration messages provide connectivity information that is utilized to instruct the network device to operate in a first, second, or third operational mode. The network device loads instructions associated with each mode to allow the network device to automatically provide connectivity based on the network configuration or topology of the domain or segment associated with the network device.

Abstract: A gateway device that interfaces an upstream network to one or more downstream networks and provides network address translation may disable network address translation when it is determined that network address translation is already being performed by a device upstream. The gateway device may analyze an address assigned to the upstream network port to determine if it is the range of IP addresses associated with network address translation, typically, 192.168.x.x. Alternately, the gateway device may disable network address translation responsive to a signal from either the device upstream or from an external system manager. DHCP may also be enabled or disabled in conjunction with network address translation.

Abstract: A method to automatically configure a network device is provided. Without user intervention, configuration messages are generated and transmitted on physical interfaces associated with the network device. Acknowledgements to the configuration messages provide connectivity information that is utilized to instruct the network device to operate in a first, second, or third operational mode. The network device loads instructions associated with each mode to allow the network device to automatically provide connectivity based on the network configuration or topology of the domain or segment associated with the network device.