# US 2026/0100916 A1 · Multi-level link aggregation groups > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0100916 A1 - Document ID: US20260100916A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/966,960 - Filed: 2024-12-03 - Published: 2026-04-09 - Earliest claimed: 2024-10-03 - Assignees: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Applicants: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Inventors: Shiva Kumar Krishna Rao; Mallikarjuna V. Shivakumar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260100916A1 ## CPC - H04L 47/41: by acting on aggregated flows or links - H04L 45/245: {Link aggregation, e.g. trunking} - H04L 47/762: triggered by the network - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A network device is provided. During operation, the network device can operate a first link-aggregation group (LAG) comprising a first set of links between the network device and a second network device. The first set of links can operate as an aggregated link between the network device and the second network device. The network device can operate a second LAG comprising the first LAG and at least a high-capacity link between the network device and the second network device. The capacity of the high-capacity link can match the combined capacity of the first LAG. The network device can determine the first and second control packets received at the first network device to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, based on an indicator in the second control packet. The network device can then configure the first and second LAGs based on the first and second control packets, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: operating, by a first network device, a first link-aggregation group (LAG) comprising a first set of links between the first network device and a second network device, wherein the first set of links operate as an aggregated link between the first network device and the second network device; operating a second LAG comprising the first LAG and at least a high-capacity link between the first network device and the second network device, wherein a capacity of the high-capacity link matches to a combined capacity of the first LAG; determining first and second control packets received at the first network device to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, based on an indicator in the second control packet; and configuring the first and second LAGs based on the first and second control packets, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein operating the first LAG further comprises operating the first LAG between a first network interface controller (NIC) of the first network device and a second NIC of the second network device; and wherein operating the second LAG further comprises operating the high-capacity link between a third NIC of the first network device and a fourth NIC of the second network device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first and second control packets to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, further comprises: determining that the indicator is present in the second control packet and absent in the first control packet; and distinguishing the second control packet from the first control packet based on the indicator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the first and second LAGs further comprises: configuring the first LAG based on a first set of parameters indicated in the first control packet; and configuring the second LAG based on a second set of parameters indicated in the second control packet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second control packets include Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) protocol data units (PDUs) associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating, as the indicator, an identifier associated with a virtual local area network (VLAN) in a range of VLANs reserved for internal use within the first and second network devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: operating a third LAG comprising a second set of links between the first network device and the second network device; operating a fourth LAG comprising the third LAG and at least a second high-capacity link between the first network device and the second network device; and distinguishing control packets of the second and fourth LAGs received at the first network device based on respective indicators allocated to the second and fourth LAGs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the first LAG and the second LAG based on a predefined configuration sequence; wherein the predefined configuration sequence comprises: configuring the second LAG; configuring the first LAG as being incorporated into the second LAG; allocating the first set of links to the first LAG; and allocating the high-capacity link to the second LAG. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions to: operate, by a first network device, a first link-aggregation group (LAG) comprising a first set of links between the first network device and a second network device, wherein the first set of links operate as an aggregated link between the first network device and the second network device; operate a second LAG comprising the first LAG and at least a high-capacity link between the first network device and the second network device, wherein a capacity of the high-capacity link matches to a combined capacity of the first LAG; determine first and second control packets received at the first network device to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, based on an indicator in the second control packet; and configure the first and second LAGs based on the first and second control packets, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein operating the first LAG further comprises operating the first LAG between a first network interface controller (NIC) of the first network device and a second NIC of the second network device; and wherein operating the second LAG further comprises operating the high-capacity link between a third NIC of the first network device and a fourth NIC of the second network device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein, to determine the first and second control packets to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, the instructions are further to: determine that the indicator is present in the second control packet and absent in the first control packet; and distinguish the second control packet from the first control packet based on the indicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein, to configure the first and second LAGs, the instructions are further to: configure the first LAG based on a first set of parameters indicated in the first control packet; and configure the second LAG based on a second set of parameters indicated in the second control packet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first and second control packets include Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) protocol data units (PDUs) associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further to allocate, as the indicator, an identifier associated with a virtual local area network (VLAN) in a range of VLANs reserved for internal use within the first and second network devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further to: operate a third LAG comprising a second set of links between the first network device and the second network device; operate a fourth LAG comprising the third LAG and at least a second high-capacity link between the first network device and the second network device; and distinguish control packets of the second and fourth LAGs received at the first network device based on respective indicators allocated to the second and fourth LAGs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further to configure the first LAG and the second LAG based on a predefined configuration sequence; wherein the predefined configuration sequence comprises: configuring the second LAG; configuring the first LAG as being incorporated into the second LAG; allocating the first set of links to the first LAG; and allocating the high-capacity link to the second LAG. ### Claim 17 A computer system, comprising: one or more processing resources; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processing resources cause the computer system to perform a method, the method comprising: operating a first link-aggregation group (LAG) comprising a first set of links between the computer system and a second computer system, wherein the first set of links operate as an aggregated link between the computer system and the second computer system; operating a second LAG comprising the first LAG and at least a high-capacity link between the computer system and the second computer system, wherein a capacity of the high-capacity link matches to a combined capacity of the first LAG; determining first and second control packets received at the computer system to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, based on an indicator in the second control packet; and configuring the first and second LAGs based on the first and second control packets, respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 18) The computer system of claim 18, wherein operating the first LAG further comprises operating the first LAG between a first network interface controller (NIC) of the computer system and a second NIC of the second computer system; and wherein operating the second LAG further comprises operating the high-capacity link between a third NIC of the computer system and a fourth NIC of the second computer system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer system of claim 18, wherein determining the first and second control packets to be associated with the first and second LAGs, respectively, further comprises: determining that the indicator is present in the second control packet and absent in the first control packet; and distinguishing the second control packet from the first control packet based on the indicator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The computer system of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises: operating a third LAG comprising a second set of links between the first network device and the second network device; operating a fourth LAG comprising the third LAG and at least a second high-capacity link between the first network device and the second network device; and distinguishing control packets of the second and fourth LAGs received at the first network device based on respective indicators allocated to the second and fourth LAGs.