Abstract: A method, network management tool, graphical user interface or computer readable medium in which network link and connection information is represented by lines having different visual characteristics that are used to represent in-service links, out-of-service links, and connections. In particular, the lines representing the connections may overlay and cover or obscure one of the lines representing the in-service or out-of-service links while not covering or only partially covering the other. In a particular embodiment, out-of-service links are represented by thin broken lines, in-service links are represented by thick solid lines that are thicker than the thin broken lines, and connections are represented by thin solid lines that are at least as thick as the thin broken lines and have a pattern or color different from the thick solid lines and which may overlay and cover or obscure one of the lines representing the links.