Method and Apparatus for Selecting a Network Element for Testing a Network

A method of identifying a network element to use for testing a network comprising the steps of:

• sorting a plurality of network elements based on one or more network parameters;
• applying testing pool definitions to the plurality of network elements;
• and
• selecting a network element from the plurality of network elements as a test network element based on the testing pool definitions,
• wherein a network uses responses from only the test network element, which is indicative of the communication parameters of a majority of the network elements of the plurality of network elements, to control a parameter of the network.

A computer readable medium carrying instructions for a computer to perform a method of identifying a network element to use for testing a network comprising the steps of:

• sorting a plurality of network elements based on one or more network parameters;
• applying testing pool definitions to the plurality of network elements;
• and
• selecting a network element from the plurality of network elements as a test network element based on the testing pool definitions,
• wherein a network uses responses from only the test network element, which is indicative of the communication parameters of a majority of the network elements of the plurality of network elements, to control a parameter of the network.