Message handling in a local area network having redundant paths

A method for message handling in a communications network having redundant paths, comprising:

• providing a peer group having a first peer switch and a second peer switch such that the first and second peer switches provide redundant paths in the network, the second peer switch having a plurality of clients, wherein the plurality of clients comprise all end stations reachable by the second peer switch;
• providing a third switch not in the peer group;
• maintaining a forwarding table of the second peer switch by the first peer switch, the table having a source addresses of the plurality of clients;
• sending a station message announcement by the first peer switch for each of the plurality of clients of the second peer switch, wherein the station message announcement is sent by the first peer switch out of every one of its ports other than the one through which a respective client communicates;
• the first peer switch inserting in the station message announcement the source address of the respective client;
• and
• receiving the station message announcement by the third switch, the third switch treating the station message announcement as though the station message announcement came from the respective client identified in the source address such that the third switch learns a new path for the respective client that comprises the first peer switch.

An apparatus for message handling in a local area network including a plurality of switches and a plurality of clients, comprising:

• a first peer switch that monitors the status of a second peer switch, the second peer switch having a plurality of clients, wherein the plurality of clients comprise all end stations reachable by the second peer switch;
• and
• a redundant path provided by the first and second peer switches via which the plurality of clients are connected through the network,
• wherein the first peer switch is configured to create a station message announcement for each of the plurality of clients of the second peer switch, each station message announcement sent by the first peer switch having a source address of a respective client of the second peer switch,
• wherein each station message announcement is sent by the first peer switch out of every one of its ports other than the one through which the respective client communicates, and
• wherein the station message announcement is configured such that a third switch that receives that station message announcement treats the station message announcement as though the station message announcement came from the respective client such that the third switch learns a new path for the respective client that comprises the first peer switch.