Network management system

A network, comprising:

• first and second terminating nodes;
• a plurality of intermediate nodes, a first one of the plurality of intermediate nodes being configured to auto-discover a second one of the intermediate nodes, the first and second terminating nodes lacking said auto-discovery and are not configured to auto-discover the plurality of intermediate nodes;
• a first processor circuit provided in the first terminating node, the first processor circuit being configured to obtain a first identifier, the first terminating node being configured to receive a first client signal, the first client signal carrying client data;
• a second processor circuit provided in the second terminating node, the second processor circuit being configured to obtain a second identifier, the second terminating node being configured to supply a second client signal, the second client signal carrying the client data;
• a third processor circuit that determines, based, at least on a match between the first and second identifiers, a path that carries the client data through the network from the first terminating node to the second terminating node via the first one of the plurality of intermediate nodes.

A method for use with a network having first and second terminating nodes and a plurality of intermediate nodes, a first one of the plurality of intermediate nodes being configured to auto-discover a second one of the intermediate nodes, the first and second terminating nodes lacking said auto-discovery and are not configured to auto-discover the plurality of intermediate nodes, the method including:

• obtaining a first and second terminating node identifiers that identify the first and second terminating nodes, respectively;
• obtaining a plurality of connection identifiers associated with a plurality of connections between the first and second terminating nodes, the first terminating node being configured to receive a first client signal, the first client signal carrying client data, and the second terminating node being configured to supply a second client signal, the second client signal carrying the client data;
• and
• determining a path that carries the client data through the network from the first terminating node to the second terminating node via the first one of the plurality of intermediate nodes, said determining being based, at least in part, the plurality of connection identifiers and the first and second terminating node identifiers.

A network, comprising:

• first and second terminating nodes;
• a plurality of intermediate nodes, a first one of the plurality of intermediate nodes being configured to auto-discover a second one of the intermediate nodes, the first and second terminating nodes lacking said auto-discovery and are not configured to auto-discover the plurality of intermediate nodes, a plurality of connections being provided between the first and second terminating nodes;
• a first processor circuit provided in the first terminating node, the first processor circuit being configured to obtain a first terminating node identifier that identifies the first terminating node, the first terminating node being configured to receive a first client signal, the first client signal carrying client data;
• a second processor circuit provided in the second terminating node, the second processor circuit being configured to obtain a second terminating node identifier that identifies the second terminating node, the second terminating node being configured to supply a second client signal, the second client signal carrying the client data;
• a third processor circuit that determines a path that supplies the client data through the network based at least in part on the first and second terminating node identifiers and a plurality of connection identifiers, the plurality of connection identifiers being associated with the plurality of connections.