Method of performing automatic commissioning of a network

Abstract

The invention describes a method of performing automatic commissioning of a network (N) comprising a plurality of network devices (), wherein each device () is characterised by a device identifier () and wherein the devices () are realised to exchange data packets (), which method comprises the steps of obtaining a computer-readable installation plan () for the network (N), which installation plan () comprises a physical location descriptor () for devices () of the network (N); deducing the network topology (T) of the network (N) from network descriptive information () provided by the devices () on the basis of data packets () exchanged between the devices (); and comparing the deduced network topology (T) to the installation plan () to allocate a physical location descriptor () to a device identifier (). The invention further describes a commissioning system () for automatically commissioning a network (N) comprising a plurality of network devices (), wherein each device () is characterised by a device identifier () and wherein each device () is realised to transmit and receive data packets (), which commissioning system () comprises a source () of a computer-readable installation plan () for the network (N), which installation plan () comprises a physical location descriptor () for each device () of the network (N); a device control interface () realised to collect network descriptive information () provided by the devices (); a topology discovery unit () realised to derive the network topology (T) of the network (N) from the provided network descriptive information (); and a commissioning unit () realised to compare the derived network topology (T) to the installation plan () to allocate a physical location descriptor () to a device identifier ().