Patent ID: 9143439
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving a first request message from a first network element, the first request message including a request for at least one system parameter associated with a cluster that includes a plurality of clustered network elements; sending a first reply message to the first network element, the first reply message including the at least one system parameter associated with the cluster, wherein the at least one parameter includes a channel group identifier identifying a channel group associated with the cluster; receiving a second request message from the first network element using an out-of-band control link, the second request message including a request to bundle a first port associated with the first network element into the channel group associated with the cluster that includes the plurality of clustered network elements, wherein the second request message includes a unit identifier associated with the first network element, the channel group identifier, and a port identifier associated with the first port; evaluating a port priority for the first port to determine a status of the first port with respect to the channel group; and sending a second reply message to the first network element, the second reply message indicating the determined status of the first port of the first network element, wherein the second reply message further includes the unit identifier, the channel group identifier, the port identifier, and the port priority of the first port and wherein the port priority is determinative of the status of the first port as being either bundled with the channel group or in a standby state.