A system and method is described for centrally managing private computer
networks, each of which has a network element assigned the identical IP
address. The networks are mapped into domains which each contains only
network elements that have unique IP addresses. A separate virtual or
physical interface at a management station is associated with each domain
whereby management data is exchanged between the management station and a
particular domain through a domain-specific interface that is assigned
its own IP address. This IP address is inserted as the source address in
data transmitted from the management station to the associated domain,
thereby enabling a router to discern the domain to which the data should
be routed. This IP address is also inserted as a destination address in
data transmitted from a domain to the management station, thereby
enabling the management station to discern from which domain the received
data originated.