Patent ID: 7765194

Claim:
A method for performing version compatibility checking, the method comprising: identifying prior version interface files associated with a prior version code base; identifying updated version interface files associated with an updated version code base; identifying tokens associated with the prior version interface files and tokens associated with updated version interface files; inserting compatibility information into updated version code base image headers configured for installation on network device line cards; generating Access Control Lists (ACLs) using the compatibility information included in updated version code base image headers; confirming compatibility at compile time, at install time, and a run time, wherein compatibility between the prior version code base and the updated version code base is confirmed at install time upon determining that structures and functions included in the tokens associated with the prior version interface files correspond to structures and functions included in the tokens associated with updated version interface files, wherein compatibility is confirmed at install time by checking compatibility information included in updated version code base image headers, and wherein compatibility is confirmed at run time by blocking traffic between line cards not identified as compatible by the ACLs.