Abstract: In a focal point network, adjacent nodes may agree to a relationship where one node (a focal point or server node) supplies network management services to the other node (a non-focal point or served node). A served node forwards management services data to its server node without waiting for any request. There is a risk that the nodes will become configured into a closed loop within which data, once introduced, will circulate endlessly. To eliminate this risk, a loop-detection message is generated when a node acquires a new server node and is itself a server node for other nodes. The message, which includes the originating node's name, is passed from served node to server node. Each node inspects the message. If it does not find its own name, it appends its name to the message and passes it on to its own server node. If the node does find its own name, it generates a loop-detected message that revokes the server/served relationship with the current server node.