Patent ID: 7345991

Claim:
A method of providing per connection end-to-end protection for a dual homed device connected to a first network device via a first uplink and a second network device via a second uplink, said first network device and said second network device part of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) stack, said method comprising the steps of: provisioning a main path from said first network device and an alternative path from said second network device to a remote end of said connection; provisioning one or more VLANs for connection at said dual homed device; first providing end-to-and protection for said dual homed device, said step of first providing comprising the steps of: sending and receiving Operation, Administration & Maintenance (OAM) packets periodically over said main path by said first network device to verify connectivity to said remote end of said connection; if connectivity fails, sending ingress packets towards said alternative path and setting an Other Path Down (OPD) flag in said OAM packets to inform said remote end that said main path is down and to switch traffic to said alternative path; second providing ingress local fast protection for failures within said VLAN stack, said step of second providing comprising the steps of: detecting a failure within said VLAN stack and tagging packets sent toward said main path with said alternative path, setting said OPD flag in OAM packets and forwarding said tagged packets and said OAM packets along said alternative path; switching traffic to said alternative path at said remote end upon receipt of OAM packets with said OPD flag set; third providing ingress local fast protection for failures in said first uplink, said step of third providing comprising the steps of: detecting a failure of said first uplink and sending all traffic from said dual homed device over said second uplink to said second network device in response thereto; and tagging packets received by said second network device with said alternative path and forwarding said tagged packets over said alternative path.