Systems and methods for improved network resilience

An optical switch for providing resilience in network communications, the optical switch communicably connected to at least:

• one first network port comprising a first plurality of subports located at a second network layer;
• at least one second network port comprising a second plurality of subports located at the second network layer;
• and
• a first layer network port located at a first network layer different from the second network layer,
• wherein at least one of the first plurality of subports comprises at least one first offline subport, wherein the at least one first offline subport is inoperable in an instance in which each of the remaining first plurality of subports are operable, and
• wherein the optical switch is configured to:
• selectively route communication between the first layer network port and the first plurality of subports of the at least one first network port and the second plurality of subports of the at least one second network port;
• and
• selectively route communication from one of the second plurality of subports to the at least one first offline subport in an instance in which the intermediate switch receives an indication of a malfunction associated with the first plurality of subports.

A method for providing resilience in network communications, the method comprising:

• communicably connecting, by an optical switch, at least:
• one first network port comprising a first plurality of subports located at a second network layer wherein at least one of the first plurality of subports comprises at least one first offline subport, wherein the at least one first offline subport is inoperable in an instance in which each of the remaining first plurality of subports are operable;
• at least one second network port comprising a second plurality of subports located at the second network layer;
• and
• a first layer network port located at a first network layer different from the second network layer
• receiving, by the optical switch, an indication of a malfunction associated with a first plurality of subports of a first network port;
• and
• routing communication, via the optical switch, from one of the second plurality of subports to the at least one first offline subport.