APPARATUS USING A KNOWLEDGE DIGEST TO VERIFY CONFIGURATION INFORMATION IN A NETWORK

A first network element forwards a set of packets associated with first configuration information along a path to a second network element. Logic in the first network element generates a first knowledge digest encoding the first configuration information into a fixed length bit array. Logic in the second network element generates a second knowledge digest encoding second configuration information into a fixed length bit array. Logic in the second network element compares the first knowledge digest to the second knowledge digest, and generates an indication if the comparison indicates that the first configuration information is not a subset of the second configuration information.