Port-link configuration tracking method and apparatus

Abstract

A logical representation of a communications network topology has links which represent connections within a network, and models of ports representing elements of devices which form the connections of the network. The logical representation is created and maintained in response to reports from the network, such as new neighbor reports and lost neighbor reports. A new neighbor module creates or changes the logical representation in response to new neighbor reports, based upon whether the reporting port is recently attached and whether the new neighbor port is recently attached. A lost neighbor module changes the logical representation in response to lost neighbor reports, by creating pseudo new neighbor reports, and allowing the pseudo new neighbor reports to be processed following a certain amount of time. The operation of the new neighbor module and lost neighbor module allow reports to be processed independent of the order in which the reports are received, and also facilitates monitoring of complex network topologies, such as those including connections of more than two nodes, and those in which reports may be received in any order.