| 摘要 |
A system and method for discovering network elements (21) are disclosed where each network element (21) includes a multicast packet sender (101) for issuing a multicast packet (105) addressed to unique group, including a local register host (31), located in a common subnet (20). A determines the identification of the issuing network packet analyzer (115) in the local register host (31) element (21) for comparison with entries in a local register host device table (123). The device table (123) is continually synchronized with a master device table (197) resident in a central management station (13) by either adding a new entry in the master device table (197) if the issuing network element (21) has come "online" or by deleting an existing entry for a network element (21) which has not issued a multicast packet (105) within a specified time.
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