Patent ID: 7310774

Claim:
A computer implemented method of selectively displaying port information for a network device in a network topology display comprising: displaying a graphical device node in the network topology display, the graphical device node representing the network device having a first connection port and a second connection port connected in the network; displaying in the network topology display at least one connection path of the network coupled to the graphical device node, the at least one connection path graphically representing network connections to the first connection port and the second connection port of the device; and selectively expanding the graphical device node in response to a user selection of the graphical device node to display an expanded device node, wherein the expanded device node concurrently displays a graphical representation of the first connection port connected to a first connection path of the network and a graphical representation of the second connection port connected to a second connection path of the network, wherein the expanded device node further displays port information for the first connection port and the second connection port, and the port information comprises a port connection type indicator.