Patent ID: 7792148

Claim:
A computer implemented method for using a virtual switch in a network, the computer implemented method comprising: responsive to a switch connecting to the network, reading network configuration data to determine whether the switch is part of the virtual switch; responsive to determining that the switch is part of the virtual switch, sending a priority number for the switch to other switches in the virtual switch connected to the network; receiving priority numbers from the other switches in the virtual switch; determining whether the switch has a highest priority number; responsive to determining that the switch does have the highest priority number, selecting the switch to become a master switch for the virtual switch; sending domain identification data for the virtual switch to the other switches in the virtual switch, wherein the master switch and the other switches in the virtual switch respond to a plurality of requests over the network as one domain identified by the domain identification data for the virtual switch; responsive to receiving a request within the plurality of requests over the network, determining by the master switch an appropriate switch within the virtual switch to respond to the request so that all switches in the virtual switch participate in routing data in the network; and instructing by the master switch the appropriate switch within the virtual switch to respond to the request.