Systems and methods for virtual shelf management of disaggregated network elements

A disaggregated network system comprising:

• a management and control unit (MCU) comprising:
• a virtual shelf management (VSM) server running on the MCU;
• a first port assigned a first port identifier (first port ID);
• and
• a second port assigned a second port identifier (second port ID);
• and
• a first tributary blade releasably and communicatively coupled to the MCU at the first port;
• the MCU is operable to:
• receive with the VSM server, through the first port, a registration request from the first tributary blade;
• determine whether the first tributary blade is pre-registered;
• when the first tributary blade is not pre-registered, assign a first virtual slot identifier (first virtual slot ID) to the first tributary blade and accept the registration request;
• when the first tributary blade is pre-registered and when the first tributary blade is pre-registered with the first virtual slot ID, accept the registration request;
• when the first tributary blade is pre-registered, and when the first tributary blade is not pre-registered with the first virtual slot ID, iteratively adding to a request count and receiving, from the first tributary blade, an additional registration request until the VSM server accepts the additional registration request or the request count meets a set number;
• and
• map the first virtual slot ID to the first port ID in a port map.