Simultaneous setup of a wireless network adapter and a network host device

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to install either a wireless network adapter or a network host device;

if the request is to install the wireless network adapter:

detecting that the network host device is not yet installed, and

prompting a user to plug in the network host device; or

if the request is to install the network host device:

detecting that the wireless network adapter is not yet installed, and

prompting the user to plug in the wireless network adapter;

causing a first connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and a first virtual access point of the network host device based on a network identifier and a network password for the first virtual access point;

receiving, from the network host device, a network identifier (ID) and a network password for a second virtual access point of the network host device; and

causing a second connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and the second virtual access point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network ID and the network password of the first virtual access point are defined during manufacturing of the network host device and the wireless network adapter to establish the first and second connections without requiring user input, wherein the network host device is configured to store a network state model that includes representations of different computing devices in a network associated with the network host device and different services provided by the network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is to install the wireless network adapter, and wherein detecting that the network host device is not yet installed comprises attempting and failing to detect a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is to install the wireless network adapter, and wherein detecting that the network host device is not yet installed comprises:

detecting at least one wireless network; and

receiving input from the user indicating that the at least one wireless network is not associated with the network host device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is to install the wireless network adapter, and further comprising causing a software driver associated with the wireless network adapter to be installed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is to install the network host device, and detecting that the wireless network adapter is not yet installed comprises attempting and failing to cause the first and second connections to be established between a computer associated with the wireless network adapter and the network host device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising causing a software driver associated with the wireless network adapter to be installed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prompting the user to define a network identifier (ID) and a network password for a third virtual access point of the network host device;

saving the network ID and the network password to a memory in a computing device associated with the wireless network adapter;

transmitting the network ID and the network password for the third virtual access point from the memory to the network host device; and

causing a third connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and the third virtual access point.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein transmitting the network ID and the network password for the third virtual access point from the memory to the network host device is accomplished via one of the first and second connections established between the wireless network adapter and the network host device, the method further comprising terminating the first connection after establishing the second connection.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform the steps of:

receiving a request to install either a wireless network adapter or a network host device;

if the request is to install the wireless network adapter:

detecting that the network host device is not yet installed, and

prompting a user to plug in the network host device; or

if the request is to install the network host device:

detecting that the wireless network adapter is not yet installed, and

prompting the user to plug in the wireless network adapter;

causing a first connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and a first virtual access point of the network host device based on a network identifier and a network password for the first virtual access point;

receiving, from the network host device, a network identifier (ID) and a network password for a second virtual access point of the network host device; and

causing a second connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and the second virtual access point.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the network ID and the network password of the first virtual access point are defined during manufacturing of the network host device and the wireless network adapter to establish the first and second connections without requiring user input, wherein the network host device is configured to store a network state model that includes representations of different computing devices in a network associated with the network host device and different services provided by the network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the request is to install the wireless network adapter, and wherein detecting that the network host device is not yet installed comprises attempting and failing to detect a wireless network.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the request is to install the wireless network adapter, and wherein detecting that the network host device is not yet installed comprises:

detecting at least one wireless network; and

receiving input from the user indicating that the at least one wireless network is not associated with the network host device.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the request is to install the wireless network adapter, and wherein the instructions further comprise causing a software driver associated with the wireless network adapter to be installed.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the request is to install the network host device, and detecting that the wireless network adapter is not yet installed comprises attempting and failing to cause the first and second connections to be established between a computer associated with the wireless network adapter and the network host device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise causing a software driver associated with the wireless network adapter to be installed.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise:

prompting the user to define a network identifier (ID) and a network password for a third virtual access point of the network host device;

saving the network ID and the network password to a memory in a computing device associated with the wireless network adapter;

transmitting the network ID and the network password for the third virtual access point from the memory to the network host device; and

causing a third connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and the third virtual access point.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein transmitting the network ID and the network password for the third virtual access point from the memory to the network host device is accomplished via one of the first and second connections established between the wireless network adapter and the network host device, the method further comprising terminating the first connection after establishing the second connection.

19. A system, comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a memory containing a program which when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising:

receiving a request to install either a wireless network adapter or a network host device; if the request is to install the wireless network adapter: detecting that the network host device is not yet installed, and prompt a user to plug in the network host device; or if the request is to install the network host device:

detecting that the wireless network adapter is not yet installed, and

prompting the user to plug in the wireless network adapter; and

causing a first connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and a first virtual access point of the network host device based on a network identifier and a network password for the first virtual access point;

receiving, from the network host device, a network identifier (ID) and a network password for a second virtual access point of the network host device; and

causing a second connection to be established between the wireless network adapter and the second virtual access point.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the network ID and the network password of the first virtual access point are defined during manufacturing of the network host device and the wireless network adapter to establish the first and second connections without requiring user input, wherein the network host device is configured to store a network state model that includes representations of different computing devices in a network associated with the network host device and different services provided by the network.