A method comprising: determining a plurality of devices in a networked state in a substation system, the plurality of devices comprising host computers, switches, and end devices; determining an inter-device connection relationship of the plurality of devices; and generating a layout view for the plurality of devices based on the inter-device connection relationship, the layout view comprising a host computer layer comprising representations of the host computers, a switch layer comprising bus lines representing the switches, and an end device layer comprising representations of the end devices, each of the host computer layer and the end device layer being connected to the switch layer; and wherein determining the plurality of devices comprises: sending a first echo request to each network address in the substation system; in response to receiving a first response to the first echo request from a first device, sending a second echo request to each network address in a network segment comprising the first device; and in response to receiving a second response to the second echo request from a second device in the network segment, determining the second device as one of the plurality of devices; and wherein determining the plurality of devices further comprises: in response to failing to receiving the second response to the second echo request from a network address in the network segment, sending a socket client-server connecting request to the network address in the network segment; and in response to receiving a third response to the socket client-server connecting request from a third device, determining the third device as one of the plurality of devices. determining a plurality of devices in a networked state in a substation system, the plurality of devices comprising host computers, switches, and end devices; determining an inter-device connection relationship of the plurality of devices; and generating a layout view for the plurality of devices based on the inter-device connection relationship, the layout view comprising a host computer layer comprising representations of the host computers, a switch layer comprising bus lines representing the switches, and an end device layer comprising representations of the end devices, each of the host computer layer and the end device layer being connected to the switch layer; and wherein determining the plurality of devices comprises: sending a first echo request to each network address in the substation system; in response to receiving a first response to the first echo request from a first device, sending a second echo request to each network address in a network segment comprising the first device; and in response to receiving a second response to the second echo request from a second device in the network segment, determining the second device as one of the plurality of devices; sending a first echo request to each network address in the substation system; in response to receiving a first response to the first echo request from a first device, sending a second echo request to each network address in a network segment comprising the first device; and in response to receiving a second response to the second echo request from a second device in the network segment, determining the second device as one of the plurality of devices; in response to failing to receiving the second response to the second echo request from a network address in the network segment, sending a socket client-server connecting request to the network address in the network segment; and in response to receiving a third response to the socket client-server connecting request from a third device, determining the third device as one of the plurality of devices. <EOS>