A system for configuring a network adapter of a computer without user
intervention. Device information for the devices of the computer,
including each network adapter, is collected to uniquely identify the
devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the
operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which
support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated
based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a
potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices.
A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding
device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the
devices in response to the allocation of computer resources. In response
to loading the driver for each network adapter, each network configuration
routine or layer for a particular interface of the corresponding network
adapter is identified. In response to the identification of these layers,
each identified layer for the particular interface is loaded. In turn,
layers are identified and loaded for each of the remaining interfaces of
the corresponding network adapter.