Method and system for managing a network

A system for managing a network having a plurality of network manager devices, the system comprising:

• a database;
• a first network manager device, said first network manager device having a first logic adapted to independently manage a first operation, including managing a first portion of the database;
• a second network manager device, said second network manager device having a second logic adapted to independently manage a second operation, including managing a second portion of the database;
• and
• a peer-to-peer interface adapted to send and receive queries, said peer-to-peer interface communicating information between the first network manager device and the second network manager device,
• wherein the first network manager device maintains a list of neighboring network manager devices that neighbor at least one other of the plurality of network manager devices, the list being accessible to the second network manager device via said peer-to-peer interface.

A machine-readable storage medium comprising a computer program for causing a computer to:

• independently manage a first operation using a first logic of the first network manager device, including managing a first portion of a database;
• independently manage a second operation using a second logic of the second network manager device, including managing a second portion of the database;
• and
• communicate information between the first network manager device and the second network manager device using a peer-to-peer interface for sending and receiving queries,
• wherein the first network manager device maintains a list of network manager devices that neighbor at least one other network manager device, the list being accessible to the second network manager device via the peer-to-peer interface.

A system for managing a network having data processing means for processing instructions stored in computer-readable storage media, the system comprising:

• a first network manager device including data processing means for independently managing a first operation using a first logic of the first network manager device, including managing a first portion of a database;
• a second network manager device including data processing means for independently managing a second operation using a second logic of the second network manager device, including managing a second portion of the database;
• and
• means for communicating information between the first network manager device and the second network manager device using a peer-to-peer interface for sending and receiving queries,
• wherein the first network manager device maintains a list of network manager devices that neighbor at least one other network manager device, the list being accessible to the second network manager device via the peer-to-peer interface.