Leader device selection in control clusters using shared VLAN

A method for leader device selection in a control cluster using a shared virtual local area network (VLAN), the method comprising:

• receiving over the VLAN, at a first virtual device executing in a data processing system, a broadcast Hello packet;
• evaluating, at the first virtual device, and responsive to the first virtual device satisfying a partnership criterion specified in the Hello packet, that a first ranking of the first virtual device is higher than a ranking of a sender virtual device, the sender virtual device broadcasting the Hello packet;
• unicasting over the VLAN a first Live packet to the sender virtual device;
• taking, by the first virtual device, a leadership role in the control cluster, the first virtual device and the sender virtual device being partners in the control cluster;
• causing the sender virtual device to stop a broadcasting operation at the sender virtual device;
• broadcasting, from the first virtual device, a second Hello packet over the VLAN;
• and
• determining, at the first virtual device, whether a partner list associated with the first virtual device includes a threshold number of partner virtual devices, the partner list including the sender virtual device, wherein the broadcasting from the first virtual device is responsive to the partner list not including the threshold number of partner virtual devices.