1. A method for connection exploration in a network including a plurality of network elements each including at least one port, wherein a globally unique identifier is assigned to each individual port of said network elements, and wherein connected ports of two network elements transfer their globally unique identifiers over a corresponding connection using heartbeat-ordered sequences, said method comprising: capturing said transferred globally unique identifiers at receiving ports; storing each of said captured globally unique identifiers at a corresponding receiving port; reading out said transferred globally unique identifiers stored at each port of said network elements using an in-band access; matching said read out globally unique identifiers to a hardware configuration data set to identify connected network elements and connections between said connected network elements; and recording information about existing connections between said network elements.