Abstract: A method for configuring router can include identifying from a first router, neighbor routers in a router network by passing messages on the router network asking to establish a relationship with the neighbor routers. A plurality of configuration modules and associated plurality of rules including self-configuration information for configuring the first router, are received from the identified neighbor routers at the first router. A router role associated with the first router is determined. The determined router role is matched with one or more router roles associated with the plurality of configuration modules. A configuration module is selected from the plurality of configuration modules based on the matching. Using the first router, the rules associated with the selected configuration module are applied in order to self-configure the first router for use in forwarding messages through the router network.

Abstract: A router can be configured using configuration modules and configuration rules passed between neighboring routers using an extension of the OSPF protocol or other protocol. The rules can be integrated into the configuration modules or separated therefrom. The rules can be interpreted to determine whether the configuration module is loaded within the router. For example, an identifier of the configuration module can be used to uniquely identify the module and compare it to already loaded modules.