Patent ID: 8208370

Claim:
A method comprising: detecting a failure of a first link, wherein said first link is coupled between a first port of a network element and an upstream portion of a communications network, said first link comprises a first part of a communications channel between said upstream portion of said communications network and a downstream portion of said communications network, and said first port is associated with a virtual network; in response to said detecting said failure of said first link, identifying a second port of said network element that is associated with said virtual network, wherein a second link is coupled between said second port of said network element and said downstream portion of said communications network, and said second link comprises a second part of said communications channel, and disabling said second port of said network element; in response to detecting a recovery of said first link, re-enabling said second port of said network element; and in response to said re-enabling said second port, said communications channel failing back to said first link and said second link.