Network topology determination by dissecting unitary connections and detecting non-responsive nodes

A method of determining topology of a network comprising source hubs which each respond with connection information indicating (i) other hubs to which they are coupled through corresponding connection ports and (ii) the corresponding connection ports through which they are coupled to the other hubs, said network including non-responsive hubs in said network, comprising the steps of:

• a. determining if connection information for each source hub comprises a plurality of destination hubs for one connection port on said source hub, and if not, then terminating, otherwise continuing;
• b. for each of said plurality of destination hubs for said one connection port:
• i. determining whether said connection information includes return connection information from a destination hub to said source hub, and if not, then removing said connection information for said one connection port from said connection information and terminating;
• ii. establishing new connection information by linking said source hub to an unsupported hub, linking said unsupported hub to said each destination hub, and linking said destination hub to said unsupported hub in said connection information;
• and
• iii. removing said connection information from said source hub to said destination hub, and said connection information from said destination hub to said source hub.

An apparatus for determining a topology of a network comprising:

• a. receiver circuitry receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of source hubs in said network, each of said plurality of signals containing connection information for said source hubs including information identifying destination hubs to which said source hubs are coupled, and a corresponding connection port on said source hubs through which said destination hubs are coupled;
• b. memory coupled to said receiver circuitry, said connection information being stored in a table in said memory;
• c. processing circuitry coupled to said memory, said processing circuitry processing said connection information by
• i. locating unitary connections in said table and executing the following operations until there are no more said unitary connections in said connection information:
• (A) selecting a unitary connection from said table, said unitary connection having a particular source hub and a particular destination hub;
• (B) determining return connection information in said table which has said particular destination hub as a source hub, and said particular source hub as a destination hub;
• (C) storing said unitary connection in a resolved link area:
• (D) storing said return connection information in a back link area;
• (E) removing said unitary connection from said table;
• ii. removing from said table all connection information that (a) has a destination hub that matches the destination hub of any given connection information in said resolved link area and (b) does not have a source hub that matches the destination hub of said even connection information in said resolved link area;
• iii. removing from said table all connection information that (a) matches connection information in said back link area and (b) is the only connection information remaining in ,said table for a particular source hub;
• iv. if said table is not empty and there are additional unitary connections in said connection information, then returning to said step i;
• and
• v. determining the topology of the network based on the connection information that is stored in said resolved link area and said back link area.