System and method for primary switch election in peer groups

A method of managing a switch, the method comprising:

• periodically exchanging dynamic election criteria with a peer switch coupled to the switch via an inter-chassis link (ICL);
• periodically determining whether the switch is a primary switch or a secondary switch based on the exchanged dynamic election criteria;
• determining whether the ICL is down;
• and
• shutting down a plurality of network links when the ICL is down and the switch is the secondary switch, the network links being part of a plurality of virtual link trunking (VLT) link aggregation groups (LAGs) wherein each of the VLT LAGs is associated with a respective first switch.

An information handling system comprising:

• a peer group comprising:
• a first switch;
• a second switch;
• and
• an inter-chassis link (ICL) coupling the first switch and the second switch;
• wherein:
• the first switch is coupled to a plurality of third switches using a plurality of first network links, the first network links being organized into a plurality of virtual link trunking (VLT) link aggregation groups (LAGs) wherein each of the VLT LAGs is associated with a respective one of the third switches;
• the second switch is coupled to the third switches using a plurality of second network links, each of the second network links being included in a corresponding one of the VLT LAGs;
• the first switch and the second switch are configured to:
• exchange one or more bandwidth capacities associated with the first network links and the second network links;
• elect one of the first switch and the second switch as a secondary switch based on the exchanged bandwidth capacities;
• and
• determine whether the ICL is down;
• when the ICL is down and the first switch is the secondary switch, the first switch is further configured to shut down the first network links;
• and
• when the ICL is down and the second switch is the secondary switch, the second switch is further configured to shut down the second network links.