Patent attributes
A method of obtaining router information in a multicast network, including transmitting a routing table query and a router name query, receiving router state data associated with a multicast router in response to the routing table query, and receiving a router identifier associated with the multicast router in response to the router name query, the router identifier being distinct from any IP address associated with the multicast router. Also disclosed is a system using a processing device adapted to perform the above method and transmit the router state data to a graphical user interface. The queries are preferably transmitted in Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Further, a part of the displayed data can include hypertext links on router names adapted to display router state data associated with a second multicast router.