Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for determining a physical (real) topology of an Ethernet type network, including mapping physical switches arranged in a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MC-LAG). Spanning tree protocol (STP) data is obtained via a combination of SNMP queries or SSH/telnet connectors. The STP data and MAC addresses are collected initially for all the switches in the mapping criteria. After collecting this data, pairs of switches are formed (e.g., randomly) and the collected data is correlated and stored according to the set of rules described in embodiments of the present disclosure in order to find switch to switch links.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for discovery of how network devices are interconnected. A group of network devices may be discovered that are associated with each other may be determined. Using a system of the present disclosures, information is gathered from network devices using networking protocols and links are identified. Protocols suggest how two or more network devices are connected to each other. Every interface on the physical or virtual device may be associated with multiple types of links identified by various protocols. A weight is assigned to each link using a weight mapping table. Next a method to reduce the number of multiple links is applied. The reduction method uses the link associated with an interface with the lowest weight to map the network topology, in some embodiments.