Abstract: Method for acquiring network knowledge in the individual operating locations of a digital transmission network having a plurality of network nodes.Following a computer outage, digital signal connections set up via central computers can no longer be reconstructed within the individual network nodes, so that no emergency operation is possible.The method is intended to place every participating network node into the position of maintaining the original or momentary path of the digital signal connection given computer outage or to restore it or, respectively, to independently set up or alternately route a connection.At the start of the digital signal connection, the digital signal is provided with an identifier in every transmission direction in the transmitting network node, this identifier being supplemented in every following, through-connecting and terminating network node. This identifier can be evaluated in each of these network nodes.