Console mapping tool for automated deployment and management of network devices An automated provisioning and management system for network devices includes a library of commands that are generic to all devices of interest, and device-specific plug-ins for implementing those commands in each of the different devices. A user can select any one of the standard commands and have it applied to a particular device of interest in a manner which is capable of being handled by that device. An interface between the library and a source of configuration information, such as a database, enables the various tasks associated with the provisioning and management of network devices to be automatically carried out on multiple devices, thereby minimizing, or even eliminating, the need to manually configure each such device. Various tools are provided to facilitate the ability of support personnel to identify and monitor functions performed by various devices, as well as detect and correct errors in the operation of those devices. Method and system for communication Method for auto-configuration of a new router when added to an IP intranetwork, the IP intranetwork formed by routers interconnected via point-to-point links. The method includes the steps of 1) establishing a physical connection between the new router and an existing router within the intranetwork; 2) establishing a point-to-point link between the new router and the existing router, over the physical connection; 3) requesting and retrieving an IP address to make IP communication possible between the new router and the existing router the point-to-point link; 4) automatically identifying the resources which are essential for retrieving configuration information for the new router; 5) automatically configuring the new node by means of the configuration information; and 6) starting a routing protocol to establish network connectivity between the new router and the rest of the intranetwork. System and method for secure provisioning and configuration of a transaction processing device The present invention discloses a transaction processing device capable of secure communication over a public network or a private network. In a preferred embodiment, the device is capable of performing various transactions. In the preferred embodiment the system which enables secure transaction processing over a communications network includes a transaction processing device, configured as a standalone transaction processing terminal, capable of secure provisionging and/or configuration over a public network, for example, the Internet. The preferred embodiment transaction processing device is useful for both SOHO type businesses and large businesses. Inexpensive secure on-line certification authority system and method A certification authority generates certificates in response to respective certification requests. The certification authority generally includes a computer that is bootable from a removable medium and a removable medium. The removable medium includes a machine readable medium having encoded thereon an operating system module configured to enable the computer to boot from the removable medium and a certificate generation module configured to, after the computer has been booted, control the computer to facilitate the generation of at least one certificate in response to an associated certificate request, the certification authority module being configured to provide that the computer not be remotely controlled during a certificate generation session.