US Patent 7318148 Automatically configuring a computer

Methods, systems, and computer product products are provided for automatically configuring hardware, such as a new computer within a computer network. To allow fast booting, a generic part of an operating system may be loaded onto the new computer. Hardware properties of the new computer may be identified using the generic part of the operating system. Further, a request may be made for the preparation of a hardware specific part of the operating system depending on the identified hardware properties of the new computer. Additionally, at least part of the hardware specific part of the operating system may be communicated between the computer network and the new computer.