Patent ID: 8886831

Claim:
A method for managing a network path between at least one end station and a network core, comprising: detecting, by a first network device, a change in status of a first upstream communication link between the first network device and the network core, wherein the change in status of the first upstream communication link comprises a loss in connectivity between the first network device and the network core; sending, by the first network device, via an aggregate link between the first network device and a second network device, notification of the change in status to the second network device, wherein the second network device is in communication with a plurality of end stations via respective first downstream communication links, and wherein the notification identifies a group of one or more of the end stations affected by the loss in connectivity; disabling the first downstream communication links in a manner that causes each end station in the group to failover to a second downstream link between a third network device and the end station to establish an alternate path between the group of one or more end stations and the network core that does not include the first network device; and continuing to carry network traffic received on the aggregate link originating from at least one end station after sending the notification of change in status to the second network device.