Address management methods and apparatus are provided for a node serving
as peer group leader for a peer group of nodes in one level of the
hierarchy of a PNNI hierarchical network, whereby the peer group leader
represents the peer group to one or more neighboring nodes in the next
level up of the hierarchy. The peer group leader has a memory (2) for
storing peer group topology data (4), comprising address data which is
supplied to the peer group leader from nodes in the peer group and
represents addresses for access by the network, and peer group leader
topology data (5), comprising address data which is supplied to said
neighboring nodes by the peer group leader and represents addresses
accessible via the peer group. The address management method comprises:
checking whether addresses represented by said address data are
accessible via the peer group; notifying said neighboring nodes of
changes in the accessibility of addresses so identified; and updating
said peer group leader topology data (5) in accordance with said changes.