Patent ID: 7590717

Claim:
A management network for controlling a network element in a communications network, the management network comprising: a network element for managing client traffic in the communications network, the network element comprising: a backplane: a first shelf processor having a negotiations module and having one of a master status and a slave status; a second shelf processor having a negotiations module and having the other of a master status and a slave status, the negotiations modules of the first and second shelf processors being in communication with each other through the backplane and determining which one of the shelf processors has the master status based on a determination that one of first and second shelf processors fails to operate, experiences an error during operation or is absent from a slot in the network element; and a switchable port controllable by at least one of the negotiations modules to be in communication with the shelf processor having the master status; and a remote management device in communication with the switchable port through an operations, administration and maintenance network, the remote management device providing management commands to the shelf processor having the master status.