Network device having a flexible EEPROM for setting configuration settings

A network device, having default values that are flexibly configurable, comprising:

• a microprocessor interface;
• a memory interface;
• a register file containing the default values for the network device;
• and
• a configuration instruction interpreter;
• wherein the memory interface is configured to receive configuration instructions, with each configuration instruction of said configuration instructions being composed of an address index and a corresponding value, wherein the configuration instruction interpreter is configured to interpret the received configuration instructions such that the corresponding values are mapped corresponding default values of the register file, and wherein the network device is configurable to set default values based on data received through either the microprocessor interface and the memory interface.

A network device, comprising:

• means for determining whether the default values are obtained through a microprocessor interface or a memory interface;
• means for receiving a header from a memory through the memory interface;
• means for determining from the header whether any default value of the network device should be updated;
• means for fetching at least one configuration instruction from the memory when the determining step determines that the network device should be updated;
• means for interpreting said at least one configuration instruction;
• means changing a register default value of said default values corresponding to said interpreted at least one configuration instruction;
• and
• means for changing said default values according to data received through the microprocessor interface;
• wherein said means for changing said default values according to data received through the microprocessor interface is configured to change the default values when the means for determining whether the default values are obtained through a microprocessor interface or a memory interface determines that the default values are to be obtained through a microprocessor interface.