A switch identification method in by a computer includes sending a first packet to a first virtual switch emulating a first physical switch, and identifying a second virtual switch that is an allocation destination to which the first virtual switch allocates the first packet, and referring, to a storage unit that stores a switch correspondence information that associates a second physical switch that is an allocation destination of the first physical switch with the second virtual switch, and identifying the second physical switch that is the allocation destination to which the first physical switch allocates a second packet emulated by the first packet.