Method of ip address de-aliasing

A method of internet protocol (IP) address de-aliasing comprising:

• a) obtaining IP addresses from devices in a network;
• b) pinging pairs of the IP addresses by sending packets to pairs of the IP addresses;
• b) obtaining ping response orders for the packets;
• and
• c) determining whether the pairs of IP addresses are aliases of the same network device based on the obtained ping response orders.

A computer readable recording medium storing instructions for causing a computer to:

• a) obtain IP addresses from devices in a network;
• b) obtain ping response orders for packets sent to pairs of the IP addresses;
• and
• c) determine whether the pairs of IP addresses are aliases of the same network device based on the obtained ping response orders.

A computer readable recording medium storing instructions for causing a computer to perform a method of:

• a) obtaining IP addresses from devices in a network;
• b) selecting a first pair of IP addresses, comprising a first IP address and a second IP address, from the obtained IP addresses;
• c) pinging the first IP address and pinging the second IP address in a first order;
• d) receiving a first ping response from the first IP address and receiving a second ping response from the second IP address;
• e) determining a second order comprising an order of the first and second ping responses;
• f) repeating c-f a plurality of times;
• g) determining a relationship between the first order and the second order;
• and
• h) determining whether the first and second IP addresses are aliases of the same network device based on the relationship.