Abstract: A network unit comprises a multiplicity of ports for transmitting and receiving data packets, a bridging facility and a routing facility. The network unit has a multiplicity of mutually exclusive states which includes an initial state from which said network unit can transition to either a slave state; or a waiting state from which in the absence of receipt from elsewhere of a broadcast advertisement including an advertised address corresponding to an address of the unit, the unit transitions to a master routing state in which the routing facility is enabled and the unit broadcasts a corresponding advertisement including an address of the unit. The unit transitions from the waiting state, when it receives from elsewhere (i.e., another unit) such a broadcast advertisement, to a master bridging state in which the routing facility is disabled and the unit provides commands for disabling a routing facility of other similar units to which the network is connected.

Abstract: A network unit comprises a multiplicity of ports for transmitting and receiving data packets, a bridging facility and a routing facility. The network unit has a multiplicity of mutually exclusive states which include an initial state from which said network unit can transition to either a slave state; or a waiting state from which in the absence of receipt from elsewhere of an broadcast advertisement including an advertised address corresponding to an address of the unit, the unit transitions to a master routing state in which the routing facility is enabled and the unit broadcasts a corresponding advertisement including an address of the unit. The unit transitions from the waiting state, when it receives from elsewhere (i.e. another unit) such a broadcast advertisement, to a master bridging state in which the routing facility is disabled and the unit provides commands for disabling a routing facility of other similar units to which the network unit is connected.