Methods and apparatus for detecting and handling split brain issues in a link aggregation group

A network node configured for use as a first portal system in a Link Aggregation Group (LAG), the LAG comprising a first portal and a second portal, the first portal comprising the first portal system and a second portal system, the first portal system comprising:

• input/output circuitry configured to communicate with one or more LAG nodes;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively connected to the input/output circuitry and configured to:
• transmit first control information to the second portal if the first portal system is communicatively connected to the second portal system, wherein the first control information comprises a system ID and first configuration information associated with the LAG;
• and
• transmit second control information to the second portal if the first portal system is not communicatively connected to the second portal system, wherein the second control information comprises the system ID and second configuration information associated with the LAG with the first configuration information being different than the second configuration information.

A method of operating a virtual node in a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) comprising a first portal at one end of a LAG link and a second portal at the other end of the LAG link, wherein the first portal comprises first and second portal systems, the method comprising:

• determining, by the first portal system, whether first control information received from the second portal system matches reference configuration associated with the LAG;
• determining whether a split brain condition exists responsive to determining that the first control information does not match reference configuration, wherein a split brain condition exists if:
• the first portal system is not communicatively connected to the second portal system;
• or
• the second portal system is communicatively connected to the second portal, and the first configuration information does not match second configuration information provided to the second portal system by the second portal.

A network node configured for use as a first portal system in a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) comprising first and second portals, wherein the first portal comprises the first portal system and a second portal system, the first portal system comprising:

• a processing circuit configured to:
• determine whether first control information received from the second portal system matches reference configuration associated with the LAG;
• and
• determine whether a split brain condition exists responsive to determining that the first control information does not match reference configuration, wherein the processing circuit determines that a split brain condition exists if:
• the first portal system is not communicatively connected to the second portal system;
• or
• the second portal system is communicatively connected to the second portal, and the first configuration information does not match second configuration information provided to the second portal system by the second portal.