Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to balance load in a cluster of switches in a network. The switches include a local switch and one or more remote switches. Messages containing load information of the switches are exchanged among the switches. One of the switches is selected to respond to a connection request to the local switch based on a metric.

Abstract: Methods for initializing an uninitialized box in a data communications network. In one embodiment, the Internet protocol (IP) address, subnet mask and default gateway of a network switch or box is remotely initialized over a data communications network from a configuration utility on a host computer. In one embodiment, the configuration utility broadcasts a service announcement over the network indicating that it is available to initialize uninitialized boxes. An uninitialized box on the network replies to the service announcement. In one embodiment, the reply from the uninitialized box includes the serial number of the uninitialized box. In one embodiment, after the configuration utility receives the reply from the uninitialized box, the configuration utility prompts a network administrator to enter an IP address, subnet mask and default gateway to assign to the uninitialized box.

Abstract: An attribute inheritance schema for nodes in a database stored on a computer system includes a plurality of database entries organized in a hierarchical structure. The database entries include a plurality of group entries having sets of configuration attributes with a portion of said group entries being parent entries for others of said plurality of group entries and a plurality of person entries having sets of configuration attributes, arranged at sublevels of the hierarchical structure, with a portion of said person entries being parent entries for others of said person entries. The schema permits each attribute of a first one of the plurality of person entries to be specifically set in the first one of the plurality of person entries or be inherited from at least a second entry of the plurality of group entries that precedes the first one of the plurality of person entries in the hierarchical structure.