Patent ID: 8861334

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising: maintaining two variables per port member of a network device which is part of a Split Multi Link Trunk/Link Aggregation Group (SMLT/LAG), a first variable comprising a link status variable reflecting a link status, and a second variable comprising a forwarding status variable reflecting a forwarding status of a forwarding plane with respect to said port, said link status variable and said forwarding status variable in a first state when said port is operating properly; detecting a failure related to said port; setting said link status variable to a second state; and setting said forwarding status variable to a second state, and wherein said first state of said link status variable comprises a UP state indicating said network device is able to receive packets, wherein said second state of said link status variable comprises a DOWN state indicating said network device is unable to receive packets, wherein said first state of said forwarding status variable comprises a READY state indicating said network device is able to forward packets, and wherein said second state of said forwarding status variable comprises a NOT READY state indicating said network device is unable to forward packets.