Techniques are provided for assigning a device to a desired network. In one embodiment, the device is connected via a network switch to the network. A value of a configurable parameter corresponds to a data speed that would be used to transfer the data between the device and the network. To assign the device to the network, the value of the parameter corresponding to a desired speed is set in the network circuitry of the device. The network switch, interfaces with the device, detects the speed, and, based on this speed, assigns the device to a corresponding network. Additionally, the switch can assign the data duplex based on a value of a configurable duplex parameter set in the network circuitry.