System for storing active and inactive configuration commands at a network node for managing its configuration state

1. A method for managing configuration state within a network node, comprising:

receiving a set of configuration commands at the network node;

executing the set of configuration commands at the network node;

storing successfully executed configuration commands such that the successfully executed configuration commands are identifiable as active configuration commands; and

storing unsuccessfully executed configuration commands such that the unsuccessfully executed configuration commands are identifiable as inactive configuration commands.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: re-executing a configuration command that was identifiable as an inactive configuration command.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said configuration command is successfully re-executed, further comprising: making the configuration command identifiable as an active configuration command.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said re-executing further comprises:

storing the configuration command such that the configuration command is identifiable as an active configuration command.

5. The method of claim 1 , farther comprising:

determining that a configuration command that was identifiable as an active configuration command is no longer valid due to a change in conditions; and

making the configuration command identifiable as an inactive configuration command.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said making further comprises: storing the configuration command such that the configuration command is identifiable as an inactive configuration command.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving instructions to display an inactive configuration command; and

displaying the inactive configuration command.

8. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions for maintaining state at a network switch, the executable instructions comprising computer code for:

executing a set of configuration commands at the network switch;

storing successfully executed configuration commands such that the successfully executed configuration commands are identifiable as active configuration commands; and

storing unsuccessfully executed configuration commands such that the unsuccessfully executed configuration commands are identifiable as inactive configuration commands.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising computer code for: re-executing a configuration command that was identifiable as an inactive configuration command.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein said configuration command is successfully re-executed, further comprising computer code for: making the configuration command identifiable as an active configuration command.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein said re-executing further comprises: storing the configuration command such that the configuration command is identifiable as an active configuration command.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising computer code for:

determining that a configuration command that was identifiable as an active configuration command is no longer valid due to a change in conditions; and

making the configuration command identifiable as an inactive configuration command.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said making further comprises: storing the configuration command such that the configuration command is identifiable as an inactive configuration command.

14. A packet-based traffic forwarding system, comprising:

memory for storing files and applications;

a processor configured to execute applications stored in the memory; and

an input interface configured to receive configuration commands, wherein said memory is for storing:

an active config file;

an inactive config file:

an exec application configured to:

execute a Bet of configuration commands received on said input interface;

place data associated with successfully executed configuration commands in the active config file, wherein the active config file defines a first state; and

place data associated with unsuccessfully executed configuration co in the inactive config file.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said exec application is further configured to:

move data associated with a configuration command from the inactive config file to the active config file in response to a change in conditions, wherein following said move the active config file defines a second state.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said exec application is further configured to:

move data associated with a configuration command from the active config file to the inactive config file in response to a change in conditions, wherein following said move the active config file defines a second state.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

an output interface, wherein said exec application is further configured to:

receive, on the input interface, instructions to display an inactive configuration command:

output data associated with the inactive configuration command on the output interface.

18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

an output interface, wherein said exec application is further configured to:

provide diagnostic data associated with the executed configuration commands on the output interface.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein said diagnostic data includes one or more displays from the set of displays comprising:

a summary of diagnostic data associated with the executed configuration commands;

an indication of how many configuration commands were successfully executed and how many configuration commands were unsuccessfully executed;

symbols indicating a line wherein a configuration command was unsuccessfully executed and code associated with the line, wherein said set of configuration commands are received as lines of code and each line of code includes one or more configuration commands;

an explanation of why unsuccessfully executed configuration commands were unsuccessfully executed;

diagnostic information configured for use with a plurality of LED lights configured to:

indicate successful execution of the set of configuration commands if each configuration command is successfully executed,

indicate partial execution of the set of configuration commands if a first configuration command is successfully executed and a second configuration command is unsuccessfully executed, and

indicate failed execution of the set of configuration commands if each configuration command is unsuccessfully executed; and

diagnostic information configured for display wit a craft interface.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein said diagnostic data is configured for storage in a text file format.