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.