Various example embodiments are directed a system that electronically discovers a plurality of current network components of an existing wireless network and relationships between the plurality network components.  This is performed based on starting at a first network component and electronically continuously crawling through the wireless network via discovering and following links between the plurality of network components in real time.  The system generates and then updates metadata describing a snapshot of a current network topology of the wireless network based on the continuous electronic discovery of the plurality of current network components of the existing wireless network and relationships between the plurality network components.