Patent ID: 8223760
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: maintaining slot assignment data indicating assignment of one or more slots of a physical router to one or more logical routers; detecting the addition of a router element into a slot of the physical router; determining, using the slot assignment data, if the router element is allocated to a logical router of the one or more logical routers configured on the physical router; assigning the router element to a free pool of unassigned router elements responsive to determining that the router element is not allocated to any of the one or more logical routers; and attaching and configuring the router element responsive to determining that the router element is allocated to one of the logical routers; wherein attaching the router element includes attaching the router element to a logical router plane associated with the logical router to which the router element is allocated, as indicated by the slot assignment data, and configuring the router element includes assigning the router element to manage at least one other router element or be managed by at least one other router element of the logical router to which the router element is allocated; and wherein attaching the router element requires at least a first privilege level and wherein configuring the router element requires at least a second privilege level, the second privilege level restricting access to the logical router to which the router element is allocated to a logical router owner entity or to a user having the first privilege level.