Abstract: A system and method for electing a master switch includes a management port for coupling a first switch to a management system, a plurality of stacking ports for coupling the first switch to other switches in a stacked switch, and a control unit. The control unit detects one or more first connectivity settings of the management port, exchanges the first connectivity settings with the other switches using at least one of the stacking ports, exchanges second connectivity settings for the other switches using the stacking ports, and elects a master switch for the stacked switch based on the first and second connectivity settings. In some embodiments, the control unit further receives a first management configuration from the management system, exchanges the first management configuration with the other switches, exchanges second management configurations of the other switches, and further elects the master switch based on the first and second management configurations.

Abstract: A shutdown response system includes a network with a first network device and a second network device. The first network device sends a first data traffic flow through the network along a first data path that includes the second network device. If the second network device determines that a shutdown condition is within a predetermined shutdown notification range of a predetermined shutdown threshold, it sends a first shutdown response notification to the first network device. The first network device receives the first shutdown response notification and, in response, determines and stores a second data path for sending the first data traffic flow through the network that does not include the second network device. In the event the second network device shuts down, the first network device immediately begins sending the first data traffic flow through the network along the second data path that does not include the second network device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for optimizing data flow in a network. The system for distributing data flow in a network includes a controller that receives, from a set of nodes coupled through the network, information of errors at the ports of each node through an input-output (IO) port. The controller compiles the information of errors to assign credits to links coupled to the ports; determines, based on the credits, how to distribute data flow in the network; generates a control signal for controlling the ports; and sends the control signal to the set of nodes through the IO port. The set of nodes controls the ports according to the control signal.

Abstract: An inter-networking device link provisioning system includes an extending device. In response to a plurality of networking devices being connected to the extending device, the extending device provides each of the plurality of networking devices with an identity of the other of the plurality of networking devices that are connected to the extending device. When a first networking device and a second networking device are connected together and to the extending device, the first networking device receives a second device identity of the second networking device from the extending device and provisions an inter-networking device link with the second networking device, and the second networking device receives a first device identity of the first networking device from the extending device and provisions the inter-networking device link with the first networking device.

Abstract: A port monitoring system includes a networking device that includes a device port and a monitoring device that includes a display. The networking device captures port indicator data that is associated with the operation of the device port, timestamps the port indicator data, and wirelessly transmits the port indicator data to the monitoring device. The monitoring device wirelessly receives the port indicator data from the networking device and determines whether the timestamp on the port indicator data satisfies a timing requirement for displaying a port indication. If the timestamp satisfies the timing requirement, the monitoring device provides a graphical user interface on the display that includes a graphical port indicator that operates according to the port indicator data. As such, real-time isochronous port indicator data may be wirelessly transmitted and displayed graphically on a monitoring device that allows a user to easily monitor port indicators on networking devices.

Abstract: A shutdown response system includes a network with a first network device and a second network device. The first network device sends a first data traffic flow through the network along a first data path that includes the second network device. If the second network device determines that a shutdown condition is within a predetermined shutdown notification range of a predetermined shutdown threshold, it sends a first shutdown response notification to the first network device. The first network device receives the first shutdown response notification and, in response, determines and stores a second data path for sending the first data traffic flow through the network that does not include the second network device. In the event the second network device shuts down, the first network device immediately begins sending the first data traffic flow through the network along the second data path that does not include the second network device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for replacing a stack unit in a stack system include determining that a first and a second port that are located on opposite ends of the stack system are inactive when operating in a stack port mode after being connected to respective ports on a new stack unit that are operating in a Ethernet port mode. In response, the first and second port are converted from the stack port mode to the Ethernet port mode. A stack port probe packet is then sent from the first and second port to the new stack unit that cause the new stack unit to convert its connected ports from the Ethernet port mode to the stack port mode. A stack port probe reply is then received through the first and second port from the new stack unit and, in response, the first and second port are converted from the Ethernet port mode to the stack port mode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for identifying an error in a Layer 3 network configuration. The system for identifying an error includes ports for receiving information of network Layer 3 configurations from devices that are communicatively coupled to the system through a network, where each of the network configurations includes a parameter. Embodiments of the system also include compiling the information of network configurations into one or more tables, wherein the one or more tables include a list of values for the network configuration parameter(s) and numbers of devices or interfaces that match to the list of values. In embodiments, the value that corresponds to the highest number of devices or interfaces in the table may be selected as the correct value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for preventing traffic loss of data directed to a destination in a network. A router in the network attempts to install a route prefix of a destination or an ARP entry in the router. If the attempt fails, the router determines whether the routing device originates the uninstalled route prefix or a set of route prefixes pointing the uninstalled ARP entry as next hop in an internet protocol (IP) reachability. If the determination is negative, the router sends a message to a neighboring router to add the router to the exclude route list of the neighboring router. When the neighboring router determines an optimal route involving the uninstalled route prefix or the set of route prefixes pointing the uninstalled ARP entry, it looks up the exclude route list so that the router is not included when determining the optimal route.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for optimizing data flow in a network. The system for distributing data flow in a network includes a controller that receives, from a set of nodes coupled through the network, information of errors at the ports of each node through an input-output (IO) port. The controller compiles the information of errors to assign credits to links coupled to the ports; determines, based on the credits, how to distribute data flow in the network; generates a control signal for controlling the ports; and sends the control signal to the set of nodes through the IO port. The set of nodes controls the ports according to the control signal.

Abstract: A method of forming a stack is presented. According to some embodiments, a stack can be formed by determining stack ports in a group of units and converting the stack ports. In some embodiments, the stack ports can be converted to stacking mode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to allow a peer or remote device to influence aggregate member selection in an aggregate group of members for a data flow. In embodiments, local-side weights and remote-side weights may be assigned to each member in an aggregate group of members. Using these weights, a global value for each member in the aggregate group may be calculated. Given these global values, a member from the aggregate group of members may be selected for egress of the new flow based upon the global values.

Abstract: A system and method for electing a master switch includes a management port for coupling a first switch to a management system, a plurality of stacking ports for coupling the first switch to other switches in a stacked switch, and a control unit. The control unit detects one or more first connectivity settings of the management port, exchanges the first connectivity settings with the other switches using at least one of the stacking ports, exchanges second connectivity settings for the other switches using the stacking ports, and elects a master switch for the stacked switch based on the first and second connectivity settings. In some embodiments, the control unit further receives a first management configuration from the management system, exchanges the first management configuration with the other switches, exchanges second management configurations of the other switches, and further elects the master switch based on the first and second management configurations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to allow a peer or remote device to influence aggregate member selection in an aggregate group of members for a data flow. In embodiments, local-side weights and remote-side weights may be assigned to each member in an aggregate group of members. Using these weights, a global value for each member in the aggregate group may be calculated. Given these global values, a member from the aggregate group of members may be selected for egress of the new flow based upon the global values.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for preventing traffic loss of data directed to a destination in a network. A router in the network attempts to install a route prefix of a destination or an ARP entry in the router. If the attempt fails, the router determines whether the routing device originates the uninstalled route prefix or a set of route prefixes pointing the uninstalled ARP entry as next hop in an internet protocol (IP) reachability. If the determination is negative, the router sends a message to a neighboring router to add the router to the exclude route list of the neighboring router. When the neighboring router determines an optimal route involving the uninstalled route prefix or the set of route prefixes pointing the uninstalled ARP entry, it looks up the exclude route list so that the router is not included when determining the optimal route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for replacing a stack unit in a stack system include determining that a first and a second port that are located on opposite ends of the stack system are inactive when operating in a stack port mode after being connected to respective ports on a new stack unit that are operating in a Ethernet port mode. In response, the first and second port are converted from the stack port mode to the Ethernet port mode. A stack port probe packet is then sent from the first and second port to the new stack unit that cause the new stack unit to convert its connected ports from the Ethernet port mode to the stack port mode. A stack port probe reply is then received through the first and second port from the new stack unit and, in response, the first and second port are converted from the Ethernet port mode to the stack port mode.