inconsistencies between internal logical names assigned to hardware devices and physical labeling of the hardware device connectors are overcome by reassigning internal logical names in a network appliance hosting the hardware devices . the initial logical names that refer to the hardware devices are read from an operating system , along with hardware addresses for the hardware devices . the relationship between the initial logical names and the hardware device addresses is compared against a desired relationship , as may be provided in a configuration file . undesired relationships between logical names and hardware devices are reassigned so that the logical names are consistent with the physical labeling for the hardware devices . the reassigned logical names can be committed to system resources to make the reassignment persistent .