Patent ID: 6611499
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for monitoring a data network that includes a plurality of routers that collectively operate to route data packets over logical paths between data sources and data destinations in accordance with information contained in a routing table in each router that specifies the downstream destination for a data packet in accordance with information contained in said packet, comprising:(a) establishing for the network a list of data destinations for which a data packet originating at the data source is destined; (b) examining the routing table of each router to determine whether the routing information collectively contained in said router routing tables specifies an available route to a data destination; (c) repeating step (b) until the routing tables of all the routers are examined; and (d) establishing a data network monitoring parameter that is a function of the number of available routes between endpoints determined in step (b) and is a further function of the number of endpoints.