Patent ID: 8045488

Claim:
A method for forming a topology mapping, the method comprising: mapping a topology of a network; collecting layer-2 address mapping table from the topology mapping; collecting Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) data; collecting address translation tables (ARP) from nodes discovered in the mapping; identifying switches, based on the nodes that return data, using layer-2 address tables; and correlating STP data, wherein the correlating comprises comparing data in the switches, identifying switch ports directly connected to other switch ports, eliminating direct switch-to-switch port connections from consideration for further layer-2 node mappings, locating entries for a switch in an associated STP table; for the switch, comparing a base bridge address with a designated bridge address; comparing the base bridge address with a neighbor's designated bridge address; finding a layer-2 address corresponding to an address of the neighbors port; when no neighbors port layer-2 address is found, creating a synthetic entry; storing neighbor switch node comprising either said found layer-2 address or said synthetic entry, and invalidating other layer-2 addresses in said switch.