A method and apparatus are disclosed for inputting new device driver information into a Personal Computer (PC) in an existing computer network so as to enable the Operating System (OS) to recognize the new hardware device during installation of the OS and to permit the OS to automatically install the associated device driver.
Method For Automatically Configuring Network Interface Card And Capable Of Randomizing A Media Access Controller Address Of The Network Interface Card
GORDON W. GIFFORD - ARLINGTON TX, US RANDALL K. MAXWELL - OREGON CITY OR, US
International Classification:
G06F003/00
US Classification:
710/036000
Abstract:
A method, system and computer readable medium for performing automatic detection and identification of installed NICs with a minimized likelihood of performing an illegal operation that would hang the detection process. Once the NIC is identified, software appropriate for the NIC may be loaded. Automatic detection and identification of NICs may be performed by inserting a portable medium such as a floppy disk in a target computer and executing a detection program upon startup, or a server computer may be used which executes a program to detect and identify NICs installed in computers connected to the server via a network connection.