Method and apparatus for determining the status of a device in a communication network

According to several aspects of the present invention, a network is monitored for status information indicative of the status of a manageable device within the network. A network manager receives the status information, and updates or initializes a device model in accordance with the status information. A state machine may be used to determine a new state for the device model, and to enable or disable the device model. The network manager may also take action to inquire as to the status of the manageable device, for example by polling the manageable device or by initiating a discovery process. The device model may be used by the network manager as a basis by which to control the manageable device, and thus control aspects of the communications within the network.