Method and apparatus for detecting changes to network elements

This invention relates generally to networks and network management and, more particularly, to detecting configuration changes to network elements. A method provides for merging lists of newly found and old network elements. The method comprises receiving the list of newly found elements and deriving a potential key value for a portion of the newly found elements from configuration data associated therewith and a key format. The method also updates one of the old elements with the configuration data of a newly found keyed element having the same key. The method compares attributes of newly found elements for components to attributes of old network elements for attribute matches and reports matches. The report lists matching old elements and newly found elements as unresolved if either one does not have a unique key.