A first host system can be configured initially with a first host identity and a second host system can be configured initially with a second host identity. A host identity can belong to only one host system at a time. An administrator system can hold an additional host identity. The administrator system can securely connect to the first host system and can pass the additional host identity to the first host system. The first host system can reconfiguring itself to use the additional host identity and can pass the first host identity to the administrator system. The administrator system can securely connect to the second host system and can pass the first host identity to the second host system. The second host system can then reconfigure itself to use the first host identity and pass the second host identity to the administrator system. In this manner the first host identity can be passed securely from the first to the host system without a risk of duplication.