HARDWARE-ASSISTED DIGITAL FAULT RELAY FOR SUB-50MS OPTICAL PROTECTION

Optical networks and nodes are described herein, including an optical network comprising a head-end node and a tail-end node. A line module of the head-end node receives fault information, generates a fault packet, and sends the fault packet to a first node controller identified by first packet forwarding information included in a packet header of the fault packet. The first node controller retrieves second packet forwarding information using the first packet forwarding information, updates the packet header, and sends the fault packet to the tail-end node identified by the second packet forwarding information. A second node controller of the tail-end node retrieves third packet forwarding information using the second packet forwarding information, updates the packet header, and sends the fault packet to an optical protection switching module (OPSM) of the tail-end node identified by the second packet forwarding information. The OPSM switches an optical switch based on the fault information.