Patent ID: 8625466

Claim:
A method comprising: determining, via a first processor executing a first instance of a spanning tree protocol on a first card of a network device, a first superior local port among a first plurality of ports on the first card based on a first plurality of bridge protocol data units (BPDUs) received via the first plurality of ports; transmitting, from the first card to a second card of the network device via at least one of a data plane and a communications channel of the network device, a data unit specifying the determined first superior local port among the first plurality of ports; determining, via a second processor executing a second instance of the spanning tree protocol on the second card, a second superior local port among a second plurality of ports on the second card based on a second plurality of BPDUs received via the second plurality of ports; and determining, via the second processor, a superior port on the network device based on at least the determined first superior local port and the determined second superior local port.