1. A method for executing a distributed algorithm in a Simple Network Management Protocol Version 1 (SNMPv1) based computer network, said SNMPv1 uses messages including Get, GetNext, Set, GetResponse and Trap messages, said algorithm has a proprietary protocol and variables, said variables include commands, placeholders and data, said network has nodes, each node having a managed information base (MIB), said method comprising the steps of: a. configuring each of said nodes as a manager node at one interval and as an agent node at another interval in said network to function as peers, i. wherein when a first node acts as a manager node said first manager node sends a Get message to another node acting as art agent node to read said agent node's MIB and said manager node sends a Set message to said agent node to write to message to said agent node to said agent node's MIB; and ii. when said first node acts as an agent node said first agent node sends a GetResponse message to another manager node in response to a Get message received from said another manager node and said first agent node sends a Trap message to said another manager node in response to an event; b. incorporating said algorithm within said SNMPv1 by: i. mapping said proprietary protocol to said SNMPv1 messages having equivalent functionality; and ii. mapping said variables to certain locations in said MIB; and c. wherein said SNMPv1 computer network is an Asynchronons Transfer Mode (ATM) network having an ATM protocol suite; and wherein said method further comprises directly interfacing said SNMPv1 into said ATM protocol suite.