Patent ID: 7752024
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for constructing a multi-layer topological model of a computer network, comprising: discovering a plurality of routers in the computer network, wherein discovering the plurality of routers further includes nominating the plurality of routers for placement in a multiple layer topology of the computer network; discovering a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) confederation topology in the computer network in response to determining that one or more network protocols discovered in the computer network organize the plurality of routers into a plurality of autonomous systems, wherein discovering the BGP confederation topology includes: determining the multiple layer topology of the computer network, wherein the multiple layer topology includes physical dependencies that represent physical connections between the plurality of routers and logical dependencies that represent the one or more adjacencies and the one or more clusters in the BGP confederation topology; and displaying a model of the multiple layer topology that includes the physical connections between the plurality of routers, the one or more adjacencies between the plurality of autonomous systems, and the one or more clusters within the plurality of autonomous systems, wherein the displayed model of the multiple layer topology represents interdependencies between different layers of the computer network.