Operation apparatus for operating a network device adapted to being part of a network comprising a plurality of network devices (102, 103, 104), wherein the operation apparatus comprises: a network information providing unit for providing network information, wherein the network information refers to information with respect to maintenance messages (105, 106, 107) sent and/or received by the network device and/or a neighboring network device (103, 104) of the network device to maintain the network, wherein the neighboring network device (103, 104) is part of the same network as the network device, a determination unit for determining self-related connection information from the network information, wherein the self-related connection information refers to information on the connection of the network device itself with the network, a control unit for controlling the network device based on the self-related connection information, wherein the network information comprises neighborhood information indicative of a network neighborhood of a neighboring network device (102, 103, 104) being part of the network neighborhood of the network device, and wherein the determination unit is adapted to determine self-related connection information from the neighborhood information, wherein the determination unit is adapted to determine from the neighborhood information an indication whether the network device is known by the neighboring network device (103, 104) to belong to the neighborhood of the neighboring network device (103, 104) as self-related connection information, and wherein the control unit is adapted to control the network device to take measures for reconnecting to the network if the self-related connection information indicates that the connection of the network device to the network is failing. a network information providing unit for providing network information, wherein the network information refers to information with respect to maintenance messages (105, 106, 107) sent and/or received by the network device and/or a neighboring network device (103, 104) of the network device to maintain the network, wherein the neighboring network device (103, 104) is part of the same network as the network device, a determination unit for determining self-related connection information from the network information, wherein the self-related connection information refers to information on the connection of the network device itself with the network, a control unit for controlling the network device based on the self-related connection information, wherein the network information comprises neighborhood information indicative of a network neighborhood of a neighboring network device (102, 103, 104) being part of the network neighborhood of the network device, and wherein the determination unit is adapted to determine self-related connection information from the neighborhood information, wherein the determination unit is adapted to determine from the neighborhood information an indication whether the network device is known by the neighboring network device (103, 104) to belong to the neighborhood of the neighboring network device (103, 104) as self-related connection information, and wherein the control unit is adapted to control the network device to take measures for reconnecting to the network if the self-related connection information indicates that the connection of the network device to the network is failing.