Provisional modes for multi-mode network devices

A network device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• operate in a third mode of operation, in which network traffic data is processed according to a first mode of operation and in which configuration data for a second mode of operation is received as input and stored in a configuration file;
• receive a command to enter the first mode of operation;
• remove a value enabling the second mode of operation from the configuration file;
• and
• enable the first mode of operation.

A method comprising:

• operating a network device in a third mode of operation, in which network traffic data is processed according to a first mode of operation and in which configuration data for a second mode of operation is received as input and stored in a configuration file;
• receiving a command for the network device to enter the second mode of operation;
• rebooting the network device in response to the receiving of the command for the network device to enter the second mode of operation;
• and
• checking, by the network device and after the rebooting of the network device in response to the receiving of the command, whether the network device can boot into the second mode of operation.