Method and programe storage device for updating a list of network elements

A method merges lists of newly found and old network elements. The method includes receiving the list of newly found elements and associated configuration data and deriving a potential key value for a portion of the newly found elements. The potential key values are derived from a portion of the configuration data associated with the newly found elements and a key format. The method includes determining that a newly found element is unkeyed if the associated potential key value is a potential key value of two of the old elements. The method includes updating one of the old elements with the configuration data of a specific newly found keyed element if the specific newly found and the one of the old elements have the same key.