Configuration management of ip/mpls router rings

[0013]Referring to FIG. 1, a network configuration 10 includes an IP / MPLS network, which for example could be a core network of a Service Provider. The IP / MPLS network 10 is communicatively connected to a first ring of routers Ring1 and to a second ring of routers Ring2 such data packet traffic can be communicated between the first and second router rings Ring1, Ring2 via the IP / MPLS network 10. The first router ring Ring1 includes a group of four routers connected in a ring network architecture by a respective bidirectional link between adjacent routers. That is, a first router R1 and a second router R2 are connected by a first bidirectional link L1. Similarly, the second router R2 and a third router R3 are connected by a second bidirectional link L2; the third router R3 and a fourth router R4 are connected by a third bidirectional link L3, and the fourth and first routers R4, R1 are connected by a fourth bidirectional link L4. The four bidirectional links L1 to L4 would each ty