Patent ID: 8819271

Claim:
A method of reviewing network information comprising: receiving communication information for a plurality of network elements from routers and switches within a plurality of local area networks, wherein the communication information includes layer 2 information including media access controller identifiers of elements within a network, layer 3 information including network addresses used by the elements within the network, and coupling identifiers corresponding to couplings between different elements within the network; storing the communication information; determining that a portion of the layer 2 information and the layer 3 information is expected information; determining, by utilizing instructions from memory that are executed by a processor, whether a particular piece of the layer 2 and layer 3 information matches a corresponding piece of expected information to identify stored information that is incorrect, and policy violations, wherein the particular piece of the layer 2 and layer 3 information is determined to match the corresponding piece of the expected information when at least a portion of the particular piece of the layer 2 and layer 3 information matches a subset of the corresponding piece of the expected information, wherein the subset includes a description of an expected port name that includes a description of a type of each of the plurality of network elements; compiling, if the particular piece of the layer 2 and layer 3 information is determined to not match the corresponding piece of expected information, a list that indicates that the particular piece of the layer 2 and layer 3 information does not match the corresponding piece of the expected information; and correcting the communication information if the particular piece of the layer 2 and layer 3 information is determined to not match the corresponding piece of expected information.