Abstract: A method is provided for a redundant port system in which any port in a packet-forwarding device can be designated as a redundant port for any other port. The redundant port system detects when the primary port fails or is about to fail, and activates or begins to activate the redundant port as a backup. The redundant port system switches to the redundant port by causing the switch fabric in the packet-forwarding device to fail over to the redundant port by updating the port description tables, routing tables, bridging tables, or other switch fabric components to designate the redundant port instead of the failed primary port, and forcing the failed primary port to deactivate. The redundant port system continues to monitor the primary port and reverts to the primary port as the preferred data path as soon as the primary port is capable of being reactivated.