Abstract: A network management system monitors and controls a frame relay network using management information transmitted directly or across the frame relay network itself in network management services vectors intended for the sole purpose of transmitting network management information to the network management system. Newly defined network management major vector formats are used to transmit detailed information concerning both the status of the various virtual circuit segments in the network and the configuration of the switched connections between those segments to form virtual circuits through the network for communication between users of the network. More particularly, status bits are defined to indicate that data links nodes are not supported by adjacent nodes of the network, and status bits to indicate likely physical failures in the hardware used to realize the data links, or logical faults involved in inconsistent indications from adjacent nodes.