Abstract: A method and apparatus for resynchronizing a network manager to its agents. Each object instance of an agent in an object-oriented management scheme is assigned two special attributes, namely, DATASYNCH and UNIQUEID. UNIQUEID is a unique number assigned to each object instance. DATASYNCH essentially is a counter which is incremented each time a change occurs to an object instance. When resynchronization is necessary, the manager requests the UNIQUEID and DATASYNCH attributes from its agents and compares those values with the corresponding values stored in its database. With respect to any object instance which does not match in both its UNIQUEID and DATASYNCH attributes to the manager's database, the manager uploads those object instances from the agent's database and/or revises its database accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing back-up management of a network element in a multi-tiered network management system. Network elements have a primary element manager responsible for managing communications with that network element and a secondary element manager that can be at a geographically remote location responsible for assuming control of communications with the network element should the primary element manager become unable to do so.