Embodiments of the invention provide a method for analyzing a data trace
representative of an FC network. The method includes determining a
topology of the network, filtering the data trace for open commands that
are not perceived by at least one analyzer positioned in communication
with the network and eliminating devices associated with these open
commands not received by an analyzer from further analysis, filtering the
data trace for failed open commands and eliminating devices associated
with the failed open commands from further analysis, and filtering the
trace data for frames to destinations that are not received by the
analyzer and eliminating devices associated with these frame from further
analysis. The method further includes filtering frames transmitted when a
loop is in closed state and eliminating devices associated with
transmitting frames when a loop is closed from further analysis, and
conducting error analysis of the network topology not eliminated by a
filtering step.