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. These networks may comprise wired and/or wireless connections. Examples would include wired networks 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 that allows new nodes and thus new devices to gain access to a network via an existing node of that network.