Abstract: A method and system for efficiently merging subnets having individual subnet managers (SM) into a single network with one master SM. During discovery and configuration of a subnet, a subnet manager creates a Subnet Management Database (SMDB) representative of the subnet components being managed. Each subnet manager contains an independent SMDB. When two or more subnets are linked/connected together to form a single network, a single one of the subnet managers is selected as the master subnet manager and all the subnets' SMDBs must be merged. An SMDB record labeling mechanism is utilized to differentiate among components from the different subnets that may have the same parameter values, such as protection keys (P_keys) and re-assign individual parameters to create a single SMDB of uniquely defined components.

Abstract: A method in a network computing system for managing a plurality of subnet managers in the network computing system. An identification is received of a set of subnet managers within the plurality of subnet managers. The set of subnet managers is allowed to participate in a master election to select a master subnet manager. Subnet managers other than the set of subnet managers are placed in a dormant state. The master subnet manager is elected from the set of subnet managers through the master election, wherein other subnet managers within the number of subnet managers poll the master subnet manager to allow the other subnet managers to elect a new master subnet manager if the master subnet manager fails.

Abstract: A method in a node within network computing system for selecting a master network manager, wherein the first node is associated with a first priority. Requests are sent to the network computing system to discover other nodes within the network computing system. A second priority from the request is identified in response to receiving a response to one of the requests from another node within the network computing system. The first node shifts to a standby mode if it discovers a master subnet manager or the second priority is higher than the first priority. The first node shifts to a master mode if a response containing a priority higher than the first priority is absent in responses received by the first node and the first node has completed checking all other nodes in the network computing system.

Abstract: A communication switch for a data communications network comprises: a buffer (340); a plurality of ports (300-307) for receiving a datagram from the network, the datagram containing control information; switching logic (320) for selectively interconnecting the ports (300-307); a management processor (330) for processing the control information to control the switching logic (320); a handshake flag accessible by the processor (330); and control logic (350) for storing the datagram in the buffer (340) at an address accessible by the processor (330) and for setting the handshake flag in response to the datagram being stored at the address. The processor (330) accesses the control information stored in the datagram in response to the handshake flag being set, processes the control information, and resets the handshake flag in response to the processing of the control information. The control logic (350) discards the datagram from the address in response to the handshake flag being reset.