Peer-to-peer hosting of intelligent field devices

A method of installing a device configuration on an IFD, the method comprising:

• accessing a configurator program using browser software, wherein the configurator program is stored on a distributed network site;
• running the configurator program to generate the device configuration for the IFD;
• storing the device configuration in memory in the IFD, wherein the IFD is a hardware device that includes a mechanism for sensing or controlling a process condition in an industrial process;
• transferring the device configuration from the IFD to a second IFD;
• and
• storing the device configuration in the second IFD.

An intelligent field device (IFD), wherein the IFD is a hardware device for use in controlling an industrial process, the IFD comprising:

• a mechanism for sensing or controlling an industrial process;
• at least one processing device;
• and
• a memory storing a configurator program and instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the IFD to perform the following operations:
• in response to being accessed by a processor external to the IFD, transmit the configurator program to the external processor;
• receive a device configuration for the IFD from the external processor, wherein the device configuration is generated by running the configurator program on the external processor;
• storing the device configuration in the memory;
• transfer the device configuration from the IFD to a second IFD;
• and
• store the device configuration in the second IFD.