Patent ID: 7133929

Claim:
A method, comprising: performing a topology discovery of properties of fundamental path elements of a cluster, including path links, the topological discovery being performed without modification of the path elements; receiving a request from a client for information on the properties of the fundamental path elements of a path, the request identifying at least a source and a destination of the path; identifying links and switches traversed in the path to identify all fundamental path elements of the path; identifying at least one alternative path to the path if an alternative path exists, wherein the alternative path has as few overlapping switches and links with the path as the physical topology allows; obtaining respective detailed information on properties of each of the fundamental path elements, including detailed information on properties of the fundamental path elements of the at least one alternative path; and sending a response to the client based on the request, the response providing the information on the properties for the fundamental path elements of the path and the at least one alternative path, including one or more links between the source and the destination.