Packet tunnel management systems and methods

An Ethernet packet switch configured to manage one or more packet tunnels includes one or more ports; forwarding circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more ports; and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the forwarding circuitry, wherein the one or more packet tunnels are configured over the one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more packet tunnels has an associated maintenance endpoint (MEP), and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to manage the one or more packet tunnels based on performance characteristics determined through one or more of the associated MEP, intermediate switches, and a Network Management System.