Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a variety of networked appliances, including equipment controlled or monitored via an Ethernet connection in industrial applications. In one example embodiment of the present invention, a networked industrial-application appliance, having a processor, includes a removable modular circuit board and a memory arrangement. The removable modular circuit board includes an identity circuit memory, an external-connection port for providing communication access between the networked industrial-application appliance processor and the identity circuit memory, and electrical conductors each of which is adapted to provide a connection with the external-connection port. The memory arrangement includes a nonvolatile memory device and is adapted to store an identity profile that is particular to the networked industrial-application appliance.