Method and apparatus for configuring an endpoint device to a computer network

A server computer for configuring an endpoint device for connection to a computer network, said server computer comprising:

• a network interface;
• a configuration database for storing configuration information for at least one class of the endpoint device;
• means for verifying a first unique network address provided via said network interface to an endpoint device connected to the computer network and for providing a signal indicative of said verifying;
• a connection manager operable for establishing, in response to the signal from said verifying means, communication between the computer network and the endpoint device;
• and
• a configuration manager operable for identifying a class of the endpoint device connected to the computer network, for retrieving from said configuration database configuration information for the identified class of the endpoint device, and for automatically configuring the endpoint device to the computer network using the retrieved configuration information.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

• monitoring a dynamic allocation of a first unique network address to an endpoint device when the endpoint device is connected to a computer network;
• establishing, in response to said monitoring, a connection between a configuration manager and the endpoint device;
• identifying, through said established connection, a class of the endpoint device connected to the network;
• retrieving configuration information from a configuration database for the identified class of the endpoint device;
• and
• configuring the endpoint device to the computer network using the retrieved configuration information.