Abstract: The present invention describes a technique for determining the topology of a network where each node of the network may issue a topology information request cell. Each switch that receives a topology information request cell compares it with a stored cells in an internal look-up table to determine if it has previously received a same cell via a shorter route. If the cell has been previously received via a shorter route, the present cell is discarded, if not, the look-up table is updated. Non-discarded cells are retransmitted on all output ports except the output port corresponding to the input port on which the cell was received. The switch also responds to the topology information request cell by transmitting a topology acknowledgement cell back to the node which initiated the topology information request. In such a manner, every switch in the network can determine the topology of the entire network.