Importance

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Abstract

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining a topology of a network. Signals are received from all source hubs in the network, wherein each of the signals contains connection information for the source hubs including destination hubs to which the source hubs are coupled, and a corresponding connection port on the source hubs through which the destination hubs are coupled. The connection information is processed by locating all unitary connections in the connection information and iteratively performing certain steps until there are no more unitary connections in the connection information. Subsequently, if the connection information is not empty and there are additional unitary connections in the connection information, then the foregoing steps are repeated until there are or more unitary connections or the processed connection information is empty. The resolved connection information is then stored for a complete topology. This above topology method and apparatus is also useful in circumstances where certain source hubs are non-responsive to requests for connection information, that is, they are either malfunctioning or are hubs of an unknown or unsupported type. The connection information may be further processed to determine such non-responsive hubs and insert references to unsupported devices in the processed connection information to show these non-responsive devices in the topology.

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First Claim