Network Event Locus Descriptor

A method of collecting diagnostic data comprising:

• configuring a plurality of network devices with a data collection command with a command parameter, the command parameter specifying an event of a network formed at least in part by the plurality of network devices, the data collection command having a plurality of pre-configured switch commands to be executed in the collection of data for a given command parameter;
• after occurrence of a network event, transmitting a responsive data collection command to each of a relevant subset of the plurality of network devices from a network management device, the responsive data collection command having a command parameter related to the network event;
• receiving from each of the subset of the plurality of network devices the data of the plurality of pre-configured switch commands of the command parameter in the responsive data collection command provided to the network device;
• and
• combining all of the received data of the plurality of pre-configured switch commands to produce an analysis data set for the network event,
• wherein the responsive data collection commands are transmitted at a rate well in excess of that possible by a human operator and the plurality of pre-configured switch commands are retrieved and executed at a rate well in excess of that possible if transmitted by a human operator.