1. A method of providing device identification to access information within a network, said method comprising the steps of: a) constructing a list of global unique identifiers (GUIDs) wherein each GUID identifies a unique device of said network and wherein said constructing orders GUIDs within said list of GUIDs according to their associated physical identifier values, wherein said physical identifier values are assigned by a local bus of said network; b) receiving a request originating from an application program to determine a communication speed value corresponding to a device of said network wherein said request includes a first GUID corresponding to said device; c) using said list of GUIDs to determine a first index value corresponding to a position of said first GUID within said list of GUIDs; and d) referencing a speed map data structure with said first index value to obtain said communication speed value, wherein said speed map data structure is organized based on physical identifiers.