Patent ID: 6785272
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of operating a switch stack, comprising:assigning a priority index to each switch of a set of switches, wherein each switch is configured to operate as a master switch; connecting said set of switches to a network backplane; assigning a master switch based on the priority index values after comparing priority index values of said set of switches, wherein the remaining switches operate as slave switches; connecting to the network backplane a switch not included in the set of switches, the switch being configured to operate as a master switch; assigning a priority index to the switch; reassigning the first master switch as a slave when the priority index value of the first master switch is less than the priority index value of the switch; and assigning the switch as a second master switch when the priority index value of the first master switch is less than the priority index value of the switch, the connecting the switch, the reassigning the switch and the assigning the switch being performed without rebooting at least one of the switch and the set of switches.