Method and apparatus for modeling and analyzing MPLS and virtual private networks

A method and apparatus for representing a network and performing operations on the represented network are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of creating at least one configuration non-specific object class associated with components of the network, creating at least one configuration non-specific representation of relationships among associated object classes, representing a behavior relationship among the object classes based on the representations of the relationships among the object classes and analyzing properties of the network based on the behavior relationships. In aspects of the invention, the represented network may be an MPLS network, a VPN or a combined MPLS-VPN.