A method (and structure) for automatically configuring a network including a plurality of interconnected computers, includes configuring more than one of the plurality of computers to assume a role as a designated router which determines a current network configuration by determining which computers are currently on-line, using this determined current network configuration to determine a current network topology that defines a neighborhood relationship among the interconnected computers currently on-line, and communicating the current network topology to the network. The method also includes defining a priority criterion and automatically selecting one of the computers according to the priority criterion to serve the role as designated router.