Determining the topology of a network

A server, comprising:

• a communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of client computers;
• and
• a processor coupled to the communication interface, and configured to:
• receive, from the plurality of client computers during a boot process of the client computers, a plurality of requests for a service;
• provide access to a respective boot image to each client computer, each respective boot image comprising a discovery module configured to execute on the client computer to which the access to the respective boot image is provided;
• receive client computer information messages from the plurality of client computers, the client computer information messages each including a network identifier that identifies a network address of a respective client computer;
• receive, from a first switch device, a first link table that identifies ports of the first switch device and corresponding network identifiers of at least some client computers of the plurality client computers;
• receive, from a second switch device, a second link table that identifies ports of the second switch device and corresponding network identifiers of other client computers of the plurality of client computers;
• and
• generate a nodal tree structure that identifies the plurality of client computers, the communication links between the plurality of client computers, the first switch device, and the second switch device based on the client computer information messages, the first link table, and the second link table.

A computer program product for obtaining information about a network, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor to carry out the steps of:

• receiving, from a plurality of client computers during a boot process of the client computers, a plurality of requests for a service;
• in response to the requests, providing access to a respective boot image to each client computer, each respective boot image comprising a discovery module configured to execute on the client computer to which the access to the respective boot image is provided;
• receiving client computer information messages from the plurality of client computers, the client computer information messages including a network identifier that identifies a network address of a respective client computer;
• receiving, from a first switch device, a first link table that identifies ports of the first switch device and corresponding network identifiers of at least some client computers of the plurality of client computers;
• receiving, from a second switch device, a second link table that identifies ports of the second switch device and corresponding network identifiers of other client computers of the plurality of client computers;
• and
• generating a nodal tree structure that identifies the plurality of client computers, the communication links between the plurality of client computers, the first switch device, and the second switch device based on the client computer information messages, the first link table, and the second link table.