Progressively determining a network topology and using neighbor information to determine network topology

摘要

An element manager and programming collect a first element topology from a first element among a plurality of elements in a network. The first element topology describes only connections between the first element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the first element. The element manager and programming collect a second element topology from a second element among the plurality of elements. The second element topology describes only connections between the second element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the second element. The element manager and programming merge the element topologies collected from the elements into a single network topology describing connections between the plurality of elements.

主权项

1. An element manager operating method comprising:
the element manager collecting a first element topology from a first element among a plurality of elements in a network, the first element topology describing connections between the first element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the first element; the element manager determining an address of a second element of the plurality of elements from the first element topology, the second element being one of the other elements of the plurality directly connected to the first element; using the address determined by the element manager, the element manager collecting a second element topology from the second element among the plurality of elements, the second element topology describing connections between the second element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the second element; the element manager merging the element topologies collected from the elements into a single network topology describing connections between the plurality of elements; wherein the first element topology comprising compiled information compiled by the first element, the compiled information resulting from layer-two (data link layer) communication using at least two different layer-two control protocols between the first element and the elements of the plurality directly connected to the first element; wherein the compiled information comprises first information describing a first one of the other elements directly connected to the first element, the first information resulting from layer-two communication using a first layer-two control protocol between the first element and the first one of the other elements directly connected to the first element; and the compiled information comprises second information describing a second one of the other elements directly connected to the first element, the second information resulting from layer-two communication using a second layer-two control protocol between the first element and the second one of the other elements directly connected to the first element.