1. A method of hot adding a programmable network adapter to an operational computer including a plurality of bus slots, comprising: adding a programmable network adapter to one of the bus slots; determining a logical board number for the programmable network adapter; identifying, based at least in part upon the logical board number, an adapter driver; and executing the identified adapter driver, thereby activating the programmable adapter so that I/O is communicated between the programmable network adapter and the operational computer.