Network configuration information, referred to as network map in the following, comprises of information about network objects. Gateways, routers, bridges, end-workstations, ethers, interfaces, etc. as well as networks themselves are network objects. The Map information will primarily cover the interconnections between the various network elements. It will also show properties and functions e.g. speed, charge, protocol, OS, etc. of the various network objects and the interconnections.
Other information that may be covered by the map are geometric and geographical. The geometric information describes how the map information will be displayed to a user. The geographical information describes the geographical location of the various network objects and can be used for showing the map in the context of a geographical map [2].