PROTECTION FOR PROVIDER BACKBONE BRIDGE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

Network protection between endpoints includes both end-to-end and local section protection. A primary path between the endpoints includes a plurality of links, and is protected on an end-to-end basis by a protection path associated with different links. At least one sections of the primary path is also protected on a local basis, where a "section" is a link, ring, trunk or other portion of a network. One or more sections of the protection path may also be protected on a local basis. In response to detection of a fault condition, section protection is utilized to overcome the fault if possible, and otherwise end-to-end protection is utilized. Invoking section protection does not imply a switchover from the primary end-to-end path to the protection end-to-end path. Rather, the primary end-to-end path is rerouted in the affected section.