Patent ID: 8401026
Filing Date: 2013-03-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: establishing, at a first network device, a first port channel that forms part of a joint port channel in coordination with a second network device, the first and second network devices having separate control planes, wherein the joint port channel combines a plurality of links of the first port channel with a plurality of links of a second port channel of the second network device, wherein each of the links of the joint port channel are communicatively coupled with ports of a third network device, wherein at least one link of the joint port channel has inactive status, an inactive status link being one that is acting as a back up to one or more active status links, wherein a determination of links of the joint port channel to be given active status is based at least in part on priorities assigned to the links of the joint port channel; at the first network device, assigning a priority to each link in the first port channel, the priorities assigned such that at least one link of the first port channel and at least one link of the second port channel are assigned active status in the operation of the joint port channel; and communicating, from the first network device to the third network device, the priority of each link of the first port channel.