A network system (10). The system comprises a network (WAN1, LAN1, LAN2) having an architectural model comprising a plurality of layers. The system also comprises a centralized manager node (CM1), coupled to the network. The system also comprises a plurality of routers (ERx) coupled to the network for communicating packets along the network and coupled to communicate with the centralized manager node. The centralized manager is programmed to perform the step (28) of communicating mapping information to each of the plurality of routers, and the mapping information comprises a correspondence of a behavior on a first of the plurality of layers with a behavior on a second of the plurality of layers.