Methods of managing a network comprising a plurality of agents. The methods may comprise the step of receiving a periodic status message from each of a first group of agents selected from the plurality of agents The methods may also comprise the steps of querying a router on a local portion of the network positioned to handle communications between components on the local portion of the network and components on a remote portion of the network, and receiving from the router an indication of a second group of agents from the plurality of agents that are communicating through the router. In addition, the methods may comprise the steps of comparing the first group of agents to the second group of agents, and generating a list of agents communicating through the router from which periodic status messages are not being received.