The mimicking of network devices in a computing device having first and second network interface cards, the first network interface card connecting the computing device to an external network and the second network interface card connecting the computing device to a local network. The invention includes receiving an incoming message from a client network device residing on the external network, the incoming message being directed to a legacy network device residing on the local network, and determining if the incoming message requires a function provided by an application module residing in the computing device. In the case that the incoming message requires a function provided by the application module, the incoming message is redirected to the application module which performs the required function in response to the incoming message. In the case that the incoming message does not require a function provided by the application module, the incoming message is passed through the local network to the legacy network device residing on the local network.