Patent ID: 9473357
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: H01L,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method comprising: at a first switch in a network, the first switch connected over first port links to a multi-homed first port extender device configured to provide an initially active first link with a server over which the first switch communicates with the server, the first switch connected to a second switch that is connected to a second port extender device configured to provide an initially passive second link with the server, the second switch connected over second port links to the first port extender, the first switch configured with information indicating a minimum bandwidth capacity requirement of the first port extender for communication with the server that is to be guaranteed: routing traffic to the server via a first path including the first port links and the first port extender, and via a second path including the second switch, the second port links, and the first extender; receiving information describing a network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender device for communication with the server, including a first network bandwidth capacity of the first port links and a second network bandwidth capacity of the second port links; comparing the received network bandwidth capacity represented as a sum of the first and second network bandwidth capacities to the minimum bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed; and if the comparing indicates that the received network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender is less than the minimum network bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed, initiating a port extender device change event to deactivate the first link and activate the second link to enable communication between the first switch and the server through the second switch and the second port extender device instead of the first port extender.