A method of baselining a network topology including at least one network device and one application node from and to which data from the network device may be sent using a network protocol. The method includes the steps of providing a network-wide time reference ensuring clock synchronicity of all the network devices and at the application node with the network-wide time reference. The method further includes causing configuration information to be collected at the application node from all network devices at a particular time or within a predetermined time slot, determining the number of networks supplied such configuration information and comparing this number against a stability threshold value. Finally, the method includes storing the configuration information together with an indication that such is stable, and thus usable in providing a reliable baseline, only if the stability threshold value is met or exceeded.