Abstract: An element manager and programming collect a first element topology from a first element among a plurality of elements in a network. The first element topology describes only connections between the first element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the first element. The element manager and programming collect a second element topology from a second element among the plurality of elements. The second element topology describes only connections between the second element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the second element. The element manager and programming merge the element topologies collected from the elements into a single network topology describing connections between the plurality of elements.

Abstract: An element manager and programming discover that a network managed by the element manager comprises a network element. The network element stores a set of values describing a configuration of the network element. In response to the discovering, the element manager and programming automatically retrieve three or more subsets of the set of values from the network element in three or more respective, different stages. A network includes a first network element configured to provide first values describing a configuration of the first network element, a second network element configured to provide second values describing a configuration of the second network element, and an element manager configured to discover the network elements, to automatically retrieve the first values in a first number of stages, and to automatically retrieve the second values in a different second number of stages.

Abstract: If a selected packet switch connected to a neighboring packet switch makes first information identifying the neighboring packet switch available, element managers and processes retrieve the first information from the selected packet switch. The first information is derived by the selected packet switch from communication via a first protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch. If the first information is not available to the element manager and if the selected packet switch makes second information identifying the neighboring packet switch available to the element manager, the element managers and processes retrieve the second information from the selected packet switch. The second information is derived from communication via a second protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch and the first and second protocols are different protocols.

Abstract: If a selected packet switch connected to a neighboring packet switch makes first information identifying the neighboring packet switch available, element managers and processes retrieve the first information from the selected packet switch. The first information is derived by the selected packet switch from communication via a first protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch. If the first information is not available to the element manager and if the selected packet switch makes second information identifying the neighboring packet switch available to the element manager, the element managers and processes retrieve the second information from the selected packet switch. The second information is derived from communication via a second protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch and the first and second protocols are different protocols.