Patent ID: 6981025

Claim:
A method in a network computing system for managing a plurality of subnet managers in the network computing system, the method comprising: receiving an identification of a set of subnet managers within the plurality of subnet managers; allowing the set of subnet managers to participate in a master election to select a master subnet manager; placing subnet managers other than the set of subnet managers in a dormant state; and electing the master subnet manager from the set of subnet managers through the master election, wherein other subnet managers within the number of subnet managers poll the master subnet manager to allow the other subnet managers to elect a new master subnet manager if the master subnet manager fails, wherein each of the subnet managers in the plurality of subnet managers implements a state machine, and wherein placing the subnet managers other than the set of subnet managers in a dormant state includes one of receiving user input designating that the state machines of the subnet managers, other than the set of subnet managers, are to be transitioned to a disabled state, and selectively transitioning the state machines of the subnet managers, other than the set of subnet managers, to a non-active standby state as determined by the master subnet manager based upon an amount of polling packets that are received by the master subnet manager.