Protection switching at a network node

A system for providing protection switching between primary and secondary paths in a packet-based network comprising:

• first memory for storing a lookup table, said lookup table having forwarding element fields for storing forwarding elements, said forwarding element fields including a primary forwarding information field for storing primary forwarding information, a secondary forwarding information field for storing secondary forwarding information, and a primary path identifier (PPI) field for storing a PPI;
• second memory having a down path identifier (DPI) field for storing a DPI;
• and
• a lookup engine configured for:
• performing a lookup to identify a first forwarding element;
• comparing the PPI from said first forwarding element to said DPI;
• selecting either said primary forwarding information or said secondary forwarding information from said first forwarding element in response to said comparison.

A method for providing protection switching between primary and secondary paths in a packet-based network comprising:

• writing primary forwarding information, secondary forwarding information, and a primary path identifier (PPI) into a forwarding element of a lookup table;
• identify said forwarding element in said lookup table;
• comparing said PPI to a down path identifier (DPI);
• selecting said primary forwarding information from said forwarding element if said PPI does not match said DPI;
• and
• selecting said secondary forwarding information from said forwarding element if said PPI matches said DPI.