Patent ID: 8243591

Claim:
A method of router interface level 2 redundancy, comprising: starting redundant ports that are members of a level 2 redundancy group in a DOWN state; determining that none of the redundant ports that are members of the level 2 redundancy group are in an ACTIVE state; switching a first one of the redundant ports that are members of the level 2 redundancy group to an ACTIVE state; activating an Internet protocol interface for the level 2 redundancy group; inserting an Internet protocol route for an interface subnet in an FIB of a router, wherein the interface subnet contains the redundant ports that are members of the level 2 redundancy group; binding the Internet protocol route for the interface to the first one of the redundant ports; determining that the first one of the redundant ports is in the ACTIVE state; receiving a gratuitous address resolution protocol reply; transitioning a second one of the redundant ports of the level 2 redundancy group from the STANDBY state to the ACTIVE state; transitioning the first one of the redundant ports to the STANDBY state; maintaining the Internet protocol route for the interface subnet in the FIB while transitioning the state of the ports; and; changing a binding of the Internet protocol route from the first one of the redundant ports to the second one of the redundant ports.