System and method for preventing erroneous link aggregation due to component relocation

A method comprising:

• receiving a PAgP PDU via an interface, wherein
• the PAgP PDU comprises a new identifier;
• and
• removing the interface from an aggregated interface in response to the new identifier, unless the PAgP PDU comprises information indicating an identifier change.

A method comprising:

• detecting an identifier change, wherein
• a network device component is identified by an old identifier prior to the identifier change, and
• the network device component is identified by a new identifier subsequent to the identifier change;
• and
• sending a link aggregation protocol PDU, subsequent to the detecting the identifier change, wherein
• the link aggregation protocol PDU comprises an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying the old identifier.

A system comprising:

• a first network device;
• and
• a second network device coupled to the first network device, wherein
• the first network device comprises a first interface configured to detect an identifier change and to send a link aggregation protocol PDU to the second network device, wherein
• the first interface is identified by an old identifier prior to an identifier change,
• the network device component is identified by a new identifier subsequent to the identifier change, and
• the link aggregation protocol PDU comprises an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying the old identifier.

A network device comprising:

• an interface comprising a protocol data unit (PDU) handling module, wherein
• the PDU handling module is configured to send a link aggregation protocol PDU comprising an “old device identifier” field,
• the “old identifier field” is dedicated to conveying an old identifier, and
• the old identifier identifies the interface prior to an identifier change.

A network device comprising:

• an interface comprising a protocol data unit (PDU) handling module, wherein
• the PDU handling module is configured to:
• receive a link aggregation protocol PDU;
• and
• remove the interface from an aggregated interface if the link aggregation protocol PDU comprises a new identifier, unless the link aggregation protocol PDU also comprises an “old device identifier” field.

A network device comprising:

• an interface comprising a port aggregation protocol (PAgP) protocol data unit (PDU) handling module, wherein
• the PAgP PDU handling module is configured to:
• receive a PAgP PDU;
• and
• remove the interface from an aggregated interface if the PAgP PDU comprises a new identifier, unless the PAgP PDU comprises information indicating an identifier change.

A network device comprising:

• a first component comprising a first interface, wherein
• the first interface is configured to:
• use a first identifier to identify the first interface in a PAgP PDU sent via the first interface;
• and
• a second component coupled to the first component, wherein
• the second component comprises a second interface configured to use the first identifier to identify the second interface in a second PAgP PDU sent via the second interface, and
• at least one of the first component and the second component is configured to cause at least one interface of the first interface and the second interface to use a second identifier in a third PAgP PDU sent via the at least one interface, if the first component is moved to a different location in a network.

A computer readable medium comprising program instructions executable to:

• detect an identifier change, wherein
• a network device component is identified by an old identifier prior to the identifier change, and
• the network device component is identified by a new identifier subsequent to the identifier change;
• and
• send a link aggregation protocol PDU, in response to the identifier change, wherein
• the link aggregation protocol PDU comprises an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying the old identifier.

A system comprising:

• means for detecting an identifier change, wherein
• a network device component is identified by an old identifier prior to the identifier change, and
• the network device component is identified by a new identifier subsequent to the identifier change;
• and
• means for sending a link aggregation protocol PDU, in response to the identifier change, wherein
• the link aggregation protocol PDU comprises an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying the old identifier.