System and method for effecting the secure deployment of networks

A system and method for allowing network users to securely administer and deploy network nodes ( 102 ). These networks ( 100 ) may comprise wired and/or wireless connections. Examples would include wired networks ( 104 ) with shared infrastructure in an office building, as well as ad-hoc multi-hopping peer-to-peer network applications for the home. The system and method provides a key ( 130 ) that allows new nodes ( 102 ) and thus new devices ( 124, 126, 132 ) to gain access to a network ( 100 ) via an existing node ( 122 ) of that network ( 100 ).