1. A computer system for defining the configuration of a network, comprising:
means for graphically representing a first network of three or more nodes by defining first network objects for the nodes;
means for graphically defining connections to relate the first network objects; and
means for automatically generating parameters to configure a physical network as defined by the network objects and connections.

2. The system recited in Claim 1, further comprising means for validating connections by comparing attributes of defined network objects.

3. The system recited in Claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for distributing the generated configuration parameters to physical systems corresponding to the network objects.

4. The system recited in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means for graphically representing network objects and the means for graphically defining connections include means for displaying on a video display icons representing requester/server devices and connection protocols.

5. The system recited in Claim 4, wherein the requester/server devices are workstations in a data processing network.

6. The system recited in any preceding Claim, further comprising:
means for graphically representing a second network of three or more nodes substantially coextensive with the first network;
means for defining second network objects for selected network nodes; and
means for graphically defining connections between selected second network objects.

7. The system recited in Claim 6, further comprising means for validating connections by comparing attributes of said second network objects.

8. The system recited in Claim 6 or 7, further comprising means for generating and distributing configuration parameters to physical systems corresponding to said second network objects.

9. The system recited in any of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the means for graphically representing said second network objects and the means for graphically defining connections include means for displaying on a video display icons representing requester/server devices and connection protocols.

10. The system recited in Claim 9, wherein the requester/server devices are workstations in a data processing network.

11. A method of generating configuration parameters for a network of workstations, comprising the steps of:
generating functional representations of three or more first network objects on a graphical video display;
generating functional representations of connections relating the first network objects on the video display;
generating configuration parameters to configure a physical network as defined by the combination of network objects and connections; and
distributing the configuration parameters to the respective network objects in a physical network.

12. The method recited in Claim 11, further comprising the step of:
generating in a second functional mode a second set of network objects and connections corresponding substantially to the first network objects and connections.

13. A system for configuring a network of multiple terminals, comprising:
workstation means for graphically depicting a network of three or more objects;
workstation means for graphically depicting connections relating the network objects;
means for a user to interactively manipulate the objects and connections depicted by the workstation; and
means for deriving configuration parameters from combined depictions having objects and connections.

14. The system recited in Claim 13, further comprising means for distributing configuration parameters to physical systems corresponding to the network objects.