Patent ID: 7185072

Claim:
A topology information automatic configuration method for configuring topology information indicating how to connect each equipment, based on configuration information, including IP address and subnet mask, established for every interface of each equipment connected to a network, comprising: a network address calculation step for obtaining a network address of a subnetwork to which an interface of an equipment is connected, as for every interface, based on the IP address and the subnet mask of the interface, wherein said network address calculation step is performed for every interface connection; a topology information configuration step for configuring the topology information indicating that each equipment, including an interface having an identical network address identical to the network address obtained in said network address calculation step, is connected to the subnetwork of the identical network address; and indicating that the equipment, having a plurality of interfaces, connects together subnetworks indicated by network addresses of the plurality of interfaces, said network addresses obtained in aid network address calculation step, wherein said topology information configuration step is performed before a corresponding network configuration.