Multi-port line card redundancy technique for an intermediate network node

A multi-port line card redundancy technique automatically reconfigures ports on line cards of an intermediate network node, such as an aggregation router, in the event of a failure to one of the ports. The technique includes a circuit that automatically enables one of a pair of line cards to assume responsibility for transmission and reception of data in the event of a failure to one of the ports of a line card. Each line card is preferably a multi-port line card having a plurality of ports. The line cards are preferably further organized and arranged into redundant pairs. The redundancy technique is preferably directed to "1+1" redundancy wherein an external device, such as an end station, transmits identical data over two connections to the redundant line cards of the router.