Efficient method of deducing network topology including endstations
View Patent ↗A technique for discovering the topology of a computer network and which relies on initially resolving the positions of end stations on the network and subsequently resolving the topology of remaining devices. This technique specifically involves querying a port of a managed device for a first address of any packet which it received; querying the same port for a second address of any other packet which the device received; if there is no such second packet, then returning data to a manager and determining if there is another port on the device; if there is such a second address, determining if there is another port on the device; repeating the preceding steps for the other port of the device; and if no such other port exists, repeating all the preceding steps for another managed device on the network.
1. A method for discovering the topology of a network comprising the steps of:
initially resolving positions of end stations on the network; and
subsequently resolving the topology of remaining devices on the network;
wherein said end stations positions resolving step comprises the steps of:
determining, for a port of a managed device on the network, a first address of any packet which has been received by said port;
determining, for said port, whether said packet contains a second address; and
if said packet does not contain the second address, specifying that the port is connected to an end station.
2. A computer program on a computer readable medium loadable into a digital computer or embodied in a carrier wave, said program including software for carrying out the method of claim 1 .
3. A computer program on a computer readable medium loadable into a digital computer or embodied in a carrier wave, for discovering the topology of a network comprising:
a program step to query a port of a managed device for a first address of any packet which has been received;
a program step for querying the same port of the device for a second address of any packet which has been received;
if there is no second address, returning relevant data to a manager and determining if there is another port on the device;
if there is a second address, determining if there is another port on the device;
if there is another port on the device, repeating the preceding four steps for another port of the managed device;
if not, repeating the preceding five steps in respect of another managed device.
4. A method for discovering the topology of a network, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) querying a port of a managed device on the network for a first address of any packet which has been received by the managed device;
(b) querying said port of the device for a second address of any packet which has been received by the managed device;
(c) if said second address does not exist, returning appropriate data to a manager and determining if there is another port on the managed device;
(d) if said second address exists, determining if there is said other port on the device;
(e) if said other port exists on the managed device, repeating steps (a)-(d) for said other port; and
(f) if said other port does not exist on the managed device, repeating steps (a)-(e) for another managed device on the network.