Dynamic node reconfiguration and provisioning of network devices

A method comprising:

• storing hardware configuration information and external connection information in a memory device of a network device, wherein the external connection information indicates an Internet Protocol (IP) address that is assigned to the network device or no IP address is assigned to the network device, and wherein the hardware configuration information indicates whether a storage device is attached to the network device;
• determining, by a processing device of the network device, a role of the network device using only the hardware configuration information and the external connection information stored in the memory device without any manual intervention or manual configuration, wherein the role of the network device is at least one of a Router Node, a Storage Node, a Base Station Node, a Relay Node, a Gateway Node, or a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) Node, wherein the determining the role further comprises distinguishing between the Router Node, the Base Station Node, the Relay Node, the Gateway Node, or the CPE node using at least the IP address that is assigned to the network device or no IP address being assigned to the network device;
• configuring the network device according to the role without any manual intervention or manual configuration;
• and
• provisioning the network device to a network without any manual intervention or manual configuration.

A system comprising:

• a first network device, wherein the first network device has a role of a Router Node in a network;
• a network switch coupled to the first network device over a first wired interface;
• and
• a second network device coupled to the network switch over a second wired interface, wherein the second network device does not initially have a role at a power-up event, wherein the second network device is assigned a first Internet Protocol (IP) address by the Router Node, wherein the second network device is to:
• generate a Round Trip Time (RTT) timing report using Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) messages with the Router Node;
• determine a RTT value between the second network device and the Router Node using the RTT timing report;
• determine that the RTT value is less than a first threshold;
• determine that the first IP address is part of a private subnet of an IP address space of the second network device;
• configure the second network device to have a role of a Base Station Node;
• send first credentials to an authentication service at a remote server via the Router Node;
• receive a response from the authentication service that the first credentials are verified;
• generate second credentials;
• send the second credentials to the authentication service via the Router Node;
• and
• connecting to the Router Node using the second credentials.