Patent ID: 8958337
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining, by a network device, whether the network device has a local link for a link aggregation group (LAG); identifying, by the network device and when the network device has a local link for the LAG, the network device as a designated forwarder for the LAG; identifying, by the network device and when the network device does not have a local link for the LAG, a closest network device to the network device, with a local link for the LAG, as the designated forwarder for the LAG; receiving, by the network device, a packet from another network device; determining, by the network device, whether the packet is permitted to be forwarded by the identified designated forwarder; forwarding, by the network device, the packet when the packet is permitted to be forwarded by the identified designated forwarder; and dropping, by the network device, the packet when the packet is not permitted to be forwarded by the identified designated forwarder.