Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, data structure and article of manufacture for detecting the potential of a timing loop occurrence within an optical network having a plurality of network elements. The method includes the steps of: building a data block for each of the network elements, each such data block including information regarding the status of synchronization status messaging (SSM) in the network; and evaluating timing distribution engineering of the network based on information in the data blocks, so as to determine the potential of timing loop occurrence in the network. The present invention provides the ability to detect the potential of a timing loop occurrence (in networks not employing SSM as well as networks employing SSM) as a result of network elements receiving line timing from one another, as opposed to having to wait for a network timing loop to occur and having to deal reactively with the problem.