Unique address assignment without reconfiguration

A system for communication, comprising:

• multiple nodes connected to a network, wherein each node is provisioned with a respective set of two or more network addresses;
• and
• one or more programmable processors, configured to run a network manager process, the network manager process is configured to:
• assign to each node in succession a respective network address, selected from the respective provisioned set, that has not been assigned for use by any preceding node in the succession;
• upon finding for a given node that all the network addresses in the respective provisioned set were assigned to preceding nodes in the succession, search over the preceding nodes to identify a candidate node having an additional network address in the respective provisioned set, other than the assigned respective network address, wherein the additional network address is not yet assigned to any of the multiple nodes, and wherein searching over the preceding nodes comprises performing a search over the preceding nodes in the succession beginning from the given node until the candidate node is identified;
• free the respective network address that was previously assigned to the candidate node for assignment to another node and assign the additional network address to the candidate node;
• and
• resume the assigning of the respective network address to each of the multiple nodes in the succession following the candidate node.

A computer software product for use in a network to which multiple nodes are connected, wherein each node is provisioned with a respective set of two or more network addresses, the product comprising:

• a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to run a network manager process, the network manager process comprising:
• assigning to each node in succession a respective network address, selected from the respective provisioned set, that has not been assigned for use by any preceding node in the succession;
• upon finding for a given node that all the network addresses in the respective provisioned set were assigned to preceding nodes in the succession, searching over the preceding nodes to identify a candidate node having an additional network address in the respective provisioned set, other than the assigned respective network address, wherein the additional network address is not yet assigned to any of the multiple nodes, and wherein searching over the preceding nodes comprises performing a search over the preceding nodes in the succession beginning from the given node until the candidate node is identified;
• freeing the respective network address that was previously assigned to the candidate node for assignment to another node, and assigning the additional network address to the candidate node;
• and
• resuming the assigning of the respective network address to each of the multiple nodes in the succession following the candidate node.