METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK TOPOLOGY DISCOVERY

摘要

Methods and apparatus for topology discovery of a network having heterogeneous network devices are disclosed. A network appliance communicate s with the network devices to acquire device descriptors and characterize the netwo rk devices accordingly. Topology discovery is based on device characteristics, media- access data, and encoded connectivity patterns, where each connectivity pattern is define d by devices of specific device types and respective media-access data. A topolog y deduction module of the network appliance synthesizes a network image starti ng with unconnected devices and progressively incorporating detected connectivity patterns.