Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a two-step authentication and activation process for QSFP+ transceivers is presented. A first hashed password is generated using a first encoding library, the first hashed password used for validating a component, the component having a memory, the memory having a protected part and an unprotected part. A first hidden hash string is generated using the first encoding library, the first hidden hash string used for validating the component. The first hashed password is used to program the first hashed password into a protected part of the component and to write the first hidden hash string into the protected part of the component, which are later verified when the component is integrated into the system. The component is only useable if the verification is successful.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method in which at least two aggregation devices, which logically operate as a single device, are interconnected by an Inter Switch Trunk (IST) link. Thereafter, forwarding records of local routing instances between the at least two aggregation devices are synchronized to enable one aggregation device to support data traffic for the other aggregation device if it has failed or a link to the aggregation device has failed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method in which at least two aggregation devices, which logically operate as a single device, are interconnected by an Inter Switch Trunk (IST) link. Thereafter, forwarding records of local routing instances between the at least two aggregation devices are synchronized to enable one aggregation device to support data traffic for the other aggregation device if it has failed or a link to the aggregation device has failed.