Patent ID: 8300646

Claim:
A method for message handling in a local area network having redundant paths, comprising: providing a peer group having a first peer switch and a second peer switch such that the first and second peer switches provide redundant paths in the network, the second peer switch having a plurality of clients, wherein the plurality of clients comprise all end stations reachable by the second peer switch; providing a third switch; sending a station message announcement by the first peer switch for each of the plurality of clients of the second peer switch, wherein the station message announcement is sent by the first peer switch out of every one of its ports other than the one through which a respective client communicates; the first peer switch inserting in each station message announcement a source address of the respective client; and receiving the station message announcement by the third switch, the third switch configured to treat the station message announcement as though the station message announcement came from the respective client identified in the source address.