Disabled state and state signaling for link aggregation

A method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:

• determining, by a processor in the network device, that a disabled timer condition is present in one of a plurality of links in a link aggregation group (LAG);
• enabling, by the processor and in response to determining that the disabled timer condition is present in the one of the plurality of links, a disabled timer state for the one of the plurality of links, where the disable timer state is associated with a particular period of time, and where enabling the disabled time includes preventing network data from being transmitted via the one of the one of the plurality of links;
• performing maintenance on the one of the plurality of links when the disabled timer state is enabled, where the maintenance is based on the disabled timer condition;
• and
• ending, by the processor, the disabled timer state in response to a first occurring one of:
• a determination that none of the plurality of links in the LAG is active,
• a determination, following completion of performing the maintenance, that the disabled timer condition is no longer present on the one of the plurality of links, or
• expiration of the particular period of time.

A device comprising:

• a plurality of links;
• and
• a processor to:
• define a link aggregation group (LAG) from two or more of the plurality of links, where the two or more of the plurality of links includes a LAG link,
• determine that a disabled timer condition is present in the LAG link, and
• in response to determining that the disabled timer condition is present for the LAG link, enable a disabled timer state for the LAG link, where the disabled timer is for a particular period of time, and where the processor, when enabling the disabled time state for the LAG link, is further to:
• prevent transmission, by the LAG link, of received network data, and
• perform maintenance on the LAG link, where the processor, when performing the maintenance, is to send test data via the LAG link.

A memory storage device for storing instructions that are executed by a processor, the instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions to determine that a disabled timer condition is present on a link aggregation group (LAG) link;
• one or more instructions to prevent, in response to determining that the disabled timer condition is present for the LAG link and for a particular period of time, the LAG link from transmitting received network data;
• and
• one or more instructions to perform maintenance on the LAG link, where the one or more instructions to perform maintenance on the LAG link include:
• one or more instructions to transmit test data via the LAG link,
• one or more instructions to monitor transmission of the test data on the LAG link to produce monitoring result,
• one or more instructions to resume, after the particular period of time, transmission of the network data, via the LAG link, when the monitoring results are within a particular range of values, and
• one or more instructions to prevent, after the particular period of time and for another period of time, transmission of the network data via the LAG link, when the monitoring results are outside the particular range of values.