A method involves receiving information identifying one or more virtual connections (VCs) available within a network and one or more IP subnets. The information is received by the first of several nodes coupled by the network and identifies either (or both) a first VC that is not locally available at the first node and a first IP subnet that is not configured on the first node. Information identifying a global topology of the network is generated, based upon the received information. The global topology includes each of several active VCs within the network and each of several IP subnets configured on the nodes coupled by the network. One of the IP subnets is then assigned to the one of the VCs, based upon the global topology of the network, until all of the IP subnets are assigned, each to a unique VC.