After importing the initial router topology and CLI device-access objects from IP Availability Manager, the MPLS Topology Server performs SNMP discovery and/or CLI discovery to query the devices for MPLS and VPN topology information. If SNMP discovery fails or is not supported by a device, the MPLS Topology Server performs CLI discovery to log in to the device and issue CLI commands to query the device for the required information.

The MPLS Manager Discovery Guide Supplement describes CLI discovery and identifies on a per-vendor basis the CLI commands that are invoked to acquire MPLS and VPN topology information.