Patent ID: 7440420

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for resynchronizing bundle interfaces associated with network devices in a network, comprising: synchronizing a first bundle interface associated with a first network device with a second bundle interface associated with a second network device, the first bundle interface having a first plurality of links associated therewith, the second bundle interface having a second plurality of links associated therewith, a plurality of connections existing between the first and second pluralities of links; determining whether all of the connections have been physically relocated from the second plurality of links to a third plurality of links, wherein determining whether all of the connections have been physically relocated from the second plurality of links to the third plurality of links comprises identifying when all of the first plurality of links correspond to a first state which corresponds to a mismatch between a stored bundle interface identifier and a received bundle interface identifier; and where all of the connections between the first plurality of links and the second plurality of links have been physically relocated from the second plurality of links to the third plurality of links associated with a third bundle interface, automatically deleting bundle interface identification data stored during synchronization of the first and second bundle interfaces; and synchronizing the first bundle interface with the third bundle interface, wherein operation of each of the first, second, and third pluralities of links is governed by a link state machine, the link state machine including a first state which corresponds to a mismatch between a stored bundle interface identifier and a received bundle interface.