Synchronization of Traffic Multiplexing in Link Aggregation

1. A method comprising: associating a first link aggregator device and a second link aggregator device with a plurality of network data communication links, wherein the first link aggregator device maintains an identifier for each link indicating at least a state of enabled or disabled; establishing a synchronized clock between the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator; transitioning a particular link of the plurality of links to a different state by: the first link aggregator sending, to the second link aggregator, a first message that identifies a particular time when the particular link should transition; the first link aggregator receiving, from the second link aggregator, a second message that indicates whether the particular time is acceptable; in response to determining that the synchronized clock has reached the particular time and the second message indicates the particular time is acceptable, updating the identifier for the particular link with the different state; in response to determining that the second message proposes a new time and the synchronized clock has reached the new time, updating the identifier for the particular link with the different state.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator with a new link, wherein the new link is in a disabled state, the particular link is the new link, and the different state is enabled.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the particular link from association with the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator and updating the identifier for the particular link to indicate disabled.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first link aggregator comprises a collector unit that collects data frames arriving on the plurality of links and a distributor unit that sends out data frames that arrive from a client using the plurality of links; wherein the identifier for each individual link of the plurality of links is configured to control whether the collector and distributor can interact with the individual link.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating one or more settings values with the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator, wherein transitioning the particular link occurs in response to a change in the settings values.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the settings values indicate at least one or more of a maximum amount of allowable links, a quality of service, or a link security policy.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform: associating a first link aggregator device and a second link aggregator device with a plurality of network data communication links, wherein the first link aggregator device maintains an identifier for each link indicating at least a state of enabled or disabled; establishing a synchronized clock between the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator; transitioning a particular link of the plurality of links to a different state by: the first link aggregator sending, to the second link aggregator, a first message that identifies a particular time when the particular link should transition; the first link aggregator receiving, from the second link aggregator, a second message that indicates whether the particular time is acceptable; in response to determining that the synchronized clock has reached the particular time and the second message indicates the particular time is acceptable, updating the identifier for the particular link with the different state; in response to determining that the second message proposes a new time and the synchronized clock has reached the new time, updating the identifier for the particular link with the different state.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising instructions for associating the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator with a new link, wherein the new link is in a disabled state, the particular link is the new link, and the different state is enabled.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising instructions for removing the particular link from association with the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator and updating the identifier for the particular link to indicate disabled.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first link aggregator comprises a collector unit that collects data frames arriving on the plurality of links and a distributor unit that sends out data frames that arrive from a client using the plurality of links; wherein the identifier for each individual link of the plurality of links is configured to control whether the collector and distributor can interact with the individual link.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising instructions for associating one or more settings values with the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator, wherein transitioning the particular link occurs in response to a change in the settings values.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the settings values indicate at least one or more of a maximum amount of allowable links, a quality of service, or a link security policy.

13. A computer system comprising: one or more processors; a memory comprising instructions which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform: associate a first link aggregator device and a second link aggregator device with a plurality of network data communication links, wherein the first link aggregator device maintains an identifier for each link indicating at least a state of enabled or disabled; establish a synchronized clock between the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator; transition a particular link of the plurality of links to a different state by: the first link aggregator sending, to the second link aggregator, a first message that identifies a particular time when the particular link should transition; the first link aggregator receiving, from the second link aggregator, a second message that indicates whether the particular time is acceptable; in response to determining that the synchronized clock has reached the particular time and the second message indicates the particular time is acceptable, updating the identifier for the particular link with the different state; in response to determining that the second message proposes a new time and the synchronized clock has reached the new time, updating the identifier for the particular link with the different state.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising the one or more processors being operable to associate the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator with a new link, wherein the new link is in a disabled state, the particular link is the new link, and the different state is enabled.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising the one or more processors being operable to remove the particular link from association with the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator and updating the identifier for the particular link to indicate disabled.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the first link aggregator comprises a collector unit that collects data frames arriving on the plurality of links and a distributor unit that sends out data frames that arrive from a client using the plurality of links; wherein the identifier for each individual link of the plurality of links is configured to control whether the collector and distributor can interact with the individual link.

17. The system of claim 13 , further comprising the one or more processors being operable to associate one or more settings values with the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator, wherein transitioning the particular link occurs in response to a change in the settings values.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the settings values indicate at least one or more of a maximum amount of allowable links, a quality of service, or a link security policy.

19. The system of claim 13 comprising any of a packet data switch or a packet data router.