1. A method for discovering a conceptual ring topology of a protection domain in a network comprising: determining which devices are within a protection domain in a network, the protection domain protecting a group of one or more data carrying virtual local area networks (data VLANs) from unnecessary transmission of data within the data VLANs; identifying which ports on the devices are configured to participate in the protection domain; discovering links underlying the protection domain starting at an arbitrary one of the ports configured to participate in the protection domain; and determining whether a topology of the links underlying the protection domain form a ring.