Method for recovering from malfunctions in an agent module of a modular network device

A method of establishing redundant management and system controller functions in a modular network device having a plurality of network interface modules housed in a chassis, comprising the steps of:

• booting the modular network device with a first agent module installed in a first slot of the chassis and a second agent module installed in a second slot of the chassis;
• determining if the first agent module is a primary agent module and the second agent module is a backup agent module when a privilege signal of the first agent module is asserted and a privilege signal of the second agent module is de-asserted;
• synchronizing configuration information of the network interface modules from the first agent module to the second agent module after a ready signal of the first agent module and a ready signal of the second agent module are both asserted;
• periodically sending a message, from the first agent module to the second agent module, indicating that the first agent module has not failed;
• detecting, at the second agent module, that the first agent module has failed if the second agent module cannot receive the message within a predetermined time interval;
• rebooting the modular network device including the first agent module and the second agent module;
• and
• performing the management and system controller functions by the second agent module using the synchronized configuration information.