Patent ID: 8446818

Claim:
A method comprising: learning, by a first network switch, first data associated with a second network switch wherein said first network switch and said second network switch operate concurrently and wherein said first network switch terminates an Access Tunnel (AT); learning, by said second network switch, second data associated with said first network switch; synchronizing said first and second data between said first network switch and said second network switch, wherein said first and second data includes MAC Addresses, Internet Protocol (IP) interface addresses, Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) associations, AT assignments and Access Point IP addresses; and load sharing tunnel data packets by said first network switch and said second network switch wherein when said second network switch receives tunnel data packets destined to said first network switch said second network switch acts as a tunnel endpoint and performs tunnel functions for said tunnel data packets; forwarding tunnel control packets received by said second network switch to said first network switch over an Inter Switch Trunk (IST); detecting a failure relating to said first network switch, wherein said detecting a failure relating to said first network switch further comprises performing recovery actions upon said detecting a failure, wherein said recovery actions include recognizing addresses and tunnels associated with said first network switch as belonging to said second network switch and handling said data packets destined for said first network switch by said second network switch for a predetermined amount of time; and establishing a new AT with said second network switch.