Firmware update of an interconnect device

A method, comprising:

• initiating removal from a link aggregation group (LAG), by a server computing device, a first network interconnect device, external to the server computing device and forming a first datalink between a core network device and the server computing device, while maintaining a second datalink between the core network device and the server computing device via a second network interconnect device external to the server computing device, the first datalink and the second datalink forming a pair of redundant data connections of the LAG, each of the redundant data connections including a plurality of multiplexed data connections within one physical network media;
• detecting, by the server computing device, a first change in state indicating that the first network interconnect device has stopped receiving and transmitting data to and from the LAG on the plurality of multiplexed data connections by monitoring the plurality of multiplexed data connections to determine whether LAG entities in the server computing device associated with the first interconnect device are coordinating the LAG, and are collecting or distributing LACP (link aggregation control protocol) frames that control the LAG;
• responsive to the first change in state, updating, by the server computing device, firmware of the first network interconnect device;
• adding, by the server computing device, the first network interconnect device back to the LAG;
• detecting, by the server computing device, a second change in state indicating that the first network interconnect device has been added back to the LAG;
• and
• responsive to the second change in state, reestablishing, by the server computing device, the redundant data connections of the first network interconnect device with the core network device, wherein the first change in state and the second change in state include indications of states in each data connection of the plurality of multiplexed data connections.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a processor of a server computing system, cause the processor to:

• initiate removal of a first network interconnect device, external to the server computing system and forming a first datalink with a core network device, from a link aggregation group (LAG) while maintaining a second datalink with a second network interconnect device external to the server computing system, the first datalink and the second datalink forming a pair of redundant data connections of the LAG, each of the redundant data connections including a plurality of multiplexed data connections within one physical network media;
• detect a first change in state indicating that the first network interconnect device has stopped receiving and transmitting data to and from the LAG on the plurality of multiplexed data connections by monitoring the plurality of multiplexed data connections to determine whether LAG entities in the server computing system associated with the first interconnect device are coordinating the LAG, and are collecting or distributing LACP (link aggregation control protocol) frames that control the LAG;
• responsive to the first change in state, update firmware of the first network interconnect device;
• add the first network interconnect device back to the LAG;
• detect a second change in state indicating that the first network interconnect device has been added back to the LAG;
• and
• responsive to the second change in state, reestablish the redundant data connections of the first network interconnect device with the core network device, wherein the first change in state and the second change in state include indications of states in each data connection of the plurality of multiplexed data connections.