Patent ID: 7519731

Claim:
A processor-executable method comprising: a) accepting at least a part of a selected set of configuration information for a data forwarding device; b) accepting at least a part of a set of candidate configuration information for the data forwarding device; and c) determining, using at least one processor, differences, if any, between the at least a part of the set of candidate configuration information for the data forwarding device, and the at least a part of the selected set of configuration information for the data forwarding device, wherein the set of candidate configuration information for the data forwarding device includes a plurality of statements, wherein a first statement of the plurality of statements of the set of candidate configuration information for the data forwarding device contains a second statement of the plurality of statements to define at least a part of a hierarchical configuration, wherein the selected set of configuration information for the data forwarding device includes a plurality of statements, wherein a first statement of the plurality of statements of the selected set of configuration information for the data forwarding device contains a second statement of the plurality of statements to define at least a part of a hierarchical configuration, wherein the at least the part of the set of candidate configuration information only includes a defined first statement and any of the plurality of statements that are descendants of the defined first statement in the hierarchical configuration, and wherein the at least the part of the selected set of configuration information includes a corresponding first statement and any of the plurality of statements that are descendants of the defined first statement in the hierarchical configuration.