Patent ID: 7013004

Claim:
A system for comparing feature package operational statuses of two or more switches in expanding a telecommunication network, the system comprising: an existing switch including a first set of feature packages; an additional switch including a second set of feature packages; a first set of feature package information from the existing switch; a second set of feature package information from the additional switch; and a computer coupled to the existing switch and to the additional switch to receive the first set of feature package information and the second set of feature package information to compare, side by side, the first set of feature package information with the second set of feature package information, to determine if a subset of feature packages that is loaded and enabled on the existing switch is identical to a subset of feature packages that are loaded and enabled on the additional switch, wherein the first and second sets of feature package information comprise a listing of the feature package identifiers corresponding to the sets of feature packages loaded onto the existing and additional switches, respectively, and an indication as to whether one or more feature packages are enabled or disabled.