Graphical representation of the connections between network devices and their configuration

A method of supervising a network comprising:

• converting information relating to the components of the network, the links between them, and the type of each link into a visual display in the form of a network map on a visual display apparatus, the network map showing each of the components of the network and the links between those components;
• and processing the information to provide a distinct type of visual image on the network map for each type of link including adding symbols to both ends of the image of said each type of link to reflect the attributes appropriate to that end of the link whereby to make visually apparent any mismatching of the attributes of each end of a link.

Network supervising apparatus comprising:

• a store, in use, storing information relating to the components of the network, the links between those components, and the type of each link;
• a visual display apparatus connectable with said store and including processor apparatus to convert the information in said store into a visual display in the form of a network map on said visual display apparatus, the network map showing each of the components and the links of the network;
• said processor apparatus processing the signals to said visual display to visually distinguish on the network map at least some of said links according to type including adding symbols to both ends of the image of said at least some of the links to reflect the attributes appropriate to that end of the link whereby to make visually apparent any mismatching of the attributes of each end of a link.