Abstract: A network for small businesses is provided which is easy to install, configure and operate and still provides users of the client computers in the network with the same degree of flexibility in configuring graphical user interfaces to operating systems and application programs as do present stand alone personal computers. All of the software to be used by the client computers: operating systems and application programs is stored on the network server computer. The graphical user interfaces to the operating systems and application programs are customized in the conventional manner by the users of the client computers, usually at the client computer through a conventional interactive display. In the customization of a program, the data representative of an initial user interface is stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and initializing the addition of a new client machine to a network while requiring only minimal intervention by an individual. The above is accomplished by using the unique network adapter addresses, for each client of the network, to determine whether or not existing client machines are operative, as well as the addition of a new client machine to the network. Upon the detection of the addition of a new client machine, the new client machine is initialized using profiles and templates to default parameters, and is fully operative with minimal interaction by an individual.