Patent ID: 7852753

Claim:
A method for centrally selecting a control network from redundant control networks of a network element, wherein the network element includes a first control network, a second control network, and a plurality of line cards, wherein each of the plurality of line cards includes a first port coupled with the first control network and a second port coupled with the second control network, each line card further including a link layer driver, a bonding interface, and application software, the method comprising: bonding the first port of each line card with the second port of each line card respectively with a bonding interface; and each of the plurality of line cards receiving a first control network selection message on the first control network and a second control network selection message on the second control network at the first and second port respectively, and performing the following: the link layer driver determining, from the first and second control network selection messages, which one of the first and second control networks is active, and reporting that determination to the bonding interface, and the bonding interface selecting the port that corresponds to the active control network, wherein the application software uses the selected active control network.