Using link state information to discover IP network topology

本发明的系统用来确定与诸如企业网之类的网络关联的拓扑结构。这种系统包括一个数据采集代理204，配置成(a)从在一个分布处理网络的至少一部分内的一个较大的第二组路由器中标识一个第一组路由器，(b)与第一组路由器中的每个路由器但不是第二组路由器中的每个其他路由器接触，以及(c)下载由所接触的在第一组路由器中的至少一些路由器维护的网络信息。然后，可以用下载的网络信息来形成企业网的网络或路由选择拓扑结构。 A system for determining a topology associated with a network such as an enterprise network. The system includes a data collection agent 204 configured to (a) identify a first set of routers from among a larger, second set of routers in an enterprise network, (b) contact each of the routers in the first set of routers but not each of the other routers in the second set of routers, and (c) load network information maintained by at least some of the contacted routers in the first set of routers. The loaded network information can then be used to form a network or routing topology of the enterprise network.