A server appliance self-adaptively configures to the operating parameters
of a communications network to enable remote configuration control
exclusively via the communications network. The server appliance includes
a host computer system including a network interface controller and an
operating system, executable by the host computer system, that is
configurable by a defined set of network values for transmitting and
receiving data packets through the network interface controller without
network configuration conflicts. A control program, executable by the host
computer system in conjunction with the operating system, determines, on
initial start-up and specifically with respect to the communications
network, an initial set of network values to configure the operating
system. The control program is subsequently responsive to a first
broadcast data packet containing network configuration parameters that are
used to determine and apply a second set of network values to configure
the operating system, which are then applied as the operating
configuration of the operating system with respect to the network.