Method and system for determining network topology

• US 7,050,404 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rocket Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rocket Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Devlin, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/973,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255, 370/257, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a method and system are provided for determining the connectivity of switches in a computer network. The switches include multiple ports for connection to other switches and network elements. Connectivity of the switches is determined by determining all the possible port pairings, determining a score for each port pairing, and selecting the port paring having the highest score.

Claims

1. A method of determining the connectivity of switches in a computer network, each switch including a plurality of ports for connection to other switches and network elements, comprising:

determining all the possible port pairings;

determining a score for each port pairing; and

selecting the port pairing having the highest score.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the score for each port is determined by determining how well the pairing conforms to a set of given properties.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps are performed by a computer in the network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the port pairing having the highest score includes determining a threshold, and discarding scores below the threshold.