Patent ID: 7596100

Claim:
A method for performing merge operations in a network having at least two switches, the method comprising: connecting a first switch with a first configuration and a first checksum to a second switch with a second configuration and a second checksum; performing a merge operation resulting in a third configuration and a third checksum; storing the first configuration on both the first and second switches; storing the second configuration on both the first and second switches; storing the third configuration on both the first and second switches, calculating a first difference which is the difference between the first configuration and the third configuration; and calculating a second difference which is the difference between the second configuration and the third configuration, wherein the first, second and third configurations are all stored on both the first and second switches at the same time, wherein storing the first configuration on both the first and second switches is done in the form of storing the first difference, the first checksum and the third configuration; and wherein storing the second configuration on both the first and second switches is done in the form of storing the second difference, the second checksum and the third configuration.