Importance

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Abstract

A method, system or switch device, the switch device being one of a ported and a non-ported switch device, either of which including a housing containing an ASIC providing a switching system within the switch device, the housing further including a plurality of extender ports communicating with the ASIC and being connectable to themselves either in loopback fashion or to one or more ported or non-ported switch devices, whereby the extender ports operate on a discrete protocol from standard switch ports. The ported switch device further includes a plurality of standard ports connectable to one or more external computer network devices. A switch device hereof is adapted to send and/or receive an identification communication, the identification communication adapted to be indicative of the health of a switch device or a connecting link in a switch system.

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First Claim