Patent ID: 7289436

Claim:
A system for managing communication links connecting components in a network element, said network element including a first component, a second component and a fabric interface link coupling said first component and said second component, said fabric interface link including a first fabric interface port in said first component coupled by a high speed inter-shelf link to a second fabric interface port in said second component, said system comprising: a first detection module associated with said first component for generating a first status message for reporting an operational state of said first fabric interface port; a second detection module associated with said second component for generating a second status message for reporting an operational state of said second fabric interface port; a third detection module associated with said first component for generating a third status message for reporting a connection state of said high speed inter-shelf link to said first fabric interface port; a fourth detection module associated with said second component for generating a fourth status message for reporting a connection state of said high speed inter-shelf link to said second fabric interface port; and, a collection module for aggregating said first, second, third, and fourth status messages to generate a single aggregate status report indicating an operational state for said fabric interface link.