A method for providing a revertive or non-revertive path protection using a Working (W) path and a Protection (P) path between first and second networks that use a first protocol, for use with first , second , third , and fourth nodes connected between the first and second networks, and each of the nodes comprising in a single enclosure a first port (outwards W and P connections in FIG. 2A) for connecting to a network; Working (W) (inward W connection in FIG. 2A) and Protection (P) (inward P connection in FIG. 2A) ports; and a protection switch coupled between the ports for transporting data traffic between the first port and the Working (W) port in working mode and for transporting data traffic between the first port and the Protection (P) port in case of failure detection, the method comprising: terminating a working path of the first network at the first port of the first node; terminating a protection path of the first network at the first port of the second node; terminating a working path of the second network at the first port of the third node; terminating a protection path of the second network at the first port of the fourth node; connecting the working (W) port of the first node to the working (W) port of the third node using a first connection (PW-13); connecting the protection (P) port of the second node to the protection (P) port of the fourth node using a fourth connection (PW-24), characterized in that: the method further comprising: connecting the protection (P) port of the first node to the working (W) port of the fourth node using a second connection (PW-14); and connecting the working (W) port of the second node to the protection (P) port of the third node using a third connection (PW-23), wherein the first node and the second node are part of a first sub-network and the third node and the fourth node are part of a second sub-network. terminating a working path of the first network at the first port of the first node; terminating a protection path of the first network at the first port of the second node; terminating a working path of the second network at the first port of the third node; terminating a protection path of the second network at the first port of the fourth node; connecting the working (W) port of the first node to the working (W) port of the third node using a first connection (PW-13); connecting the protection (P) port of the second node to the protection (P) port of the fourth node using a fourth connection (PW-24), characterized in that: the method further comprising: connecting the protection (P) port of the first node to the working (W) port of the fourth node using a second connection (PW-14); and connecting the working (W) port of the second node to the protection (P) port of the third node using a third connection (PW-23), wherein the first node and the second node are part of a first sub-network and the third node and the fourth node are part of a second sub-network. connecting the protection (P) port of the first node to the working (W) port of the fourth node using a second connection (PW-14); and connecting the working (W) port of the second node to the protection (P) port of the third node using a third connection (PW-23), wherein the first node and the second node are part of a first sub-network and the third node and the fourth node are part of a second sub-network. <EOS>