System and method for self-identifying and configuring the nodes of a network

Abstract

A system and method for progressively identifying and configuring the nodes of a network having an unknown or partially unknown topology are presented. A special all-node address indicator is designated for insertion in a packet to be sent from a given node with known node address to a next adjacent node with unknown node address. Each node contains a port control register for each port of the node which when set instructs the node to insert the all-node address indicator into a packet to be forwarded to a next adjacent node in the network with unknown node address. The port control registers are remotely selectively set by one or more managing nodes of the network. Race condition is avoided by provision of a set count register associated with an address node register and managing node address register within each node of the network. A node can be configured only if the previously read set count value remains unchanged between reading of and writing to the address node register or managing node address register. Provision for identifying additions, deletions and other changes to the network automatically is also provided.