Method and apparatus for automatic discovery of logical links between network devices

A method for automatic discovery of logical links associated with network devices comprising the steps of:

• selecting a first managed network device having a first network interface, said first network device being managed by a network management system;
• determining a local interface address and a next neighbor address associated with said first network interface;
• comparing said local interface address and next neighbor address with endpoint address information associated with a plurality of logical links stored in a logical link database associated with said network management system;
• determining that said local interface address and next neighbor address are both associated with endpoint address information for a first logical link stored in said logical link database.

An apparatus for discovering logical links associated with network devices comprising:

• a network management system comprising:
• a database of managed network devices;
• a database of logical links associated with said managed network devices;
• a network communications system for sending messages to managed network devices and receiving messages from said managed network devices;
• a message analysis system for determining local interface address information and next neighbor address information from messages received from said managed network devices.