Aggregating nodes for efficient network management system visualization and operations

[0018]The present invention includes methods for a network management system (NMS) that provide data structures representing a hierarchy of aggregations and functionality that provides efficient management operations and information visualization for aggregations at each level of the hierarchy. Each aggregation at a first level of a hierarchy contains data structures that represent nodes, and each aggregation at an upper level of the hierarchy contains aggregations from the next lower level of the hierarchy. The NMS can send commands to nodes, including commands to reboot, upgrade firmware, modify internal parameter values, and send back stored data; nodes can send the NMS both pulled data, such as responses to commands, and pushed data, such as status messages. In one embodiment, status messages are Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) messages.

[0019]Another embodiment includes a hierarchy of aggregations that represent commonly known geographical concepts, with a first level of