Optical transport network decoupling using optical data unit and optical channel link aggregation groups (lags)

A network device provided at a first access site of an optical transport network, the network device comprising:

• a memory to store a plurality of instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute instructions in the memory to:
• create a first Ethernet link aggregation group (LAG) at the first access site,
• create a second Ethernet LAG at the first access site,
• establish a first optical channel (OCh) LAG subpath from the first Ethernet LAG, via a second access site of the optical transport network, to an Ethernet LAG at a third access site of the optical transport network,
• establish a second OCh LAG subpath from the first Ethernet LAG, via a distribution site of the optical transport network, to the Ethernet LAG at the third access site,
• establish a first optical data unit (ODUk) LAG subpath from the second Ethernet LAG to an Ethernet LAG at the second access site, and
• establish a second ODUk LAG subpath from the second Ethernet LAG, via the distribution site and the third access site, to the Ethernet LAG at the second access site.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by one or more processors of a network device located at a first access site of an optical transport network, the media storing one or more instructions for:

• establishing a first Ethernet link aggregation group (LAG) at the first access site;
• establishing a second Ethernet LAG at the first access site;
• creating a first optical channel (OCh) LAG subpath from the first Ethernet LAG, via a second access site of the optical transport network, to an Ethernet LAG at a third access site of the optical transport network;
• creating a second OCh LAG subpath from the first Ethernet LAG, via a distribution site of the optical transport network, to the Ethernet LAG at the third access site;
• creating a first optical data unit (ODUk) LAG subpath from the second Ethernet LAG to an Ethernet LAG at the second access site;
• creating a second ODUk LAG subpath from the second Ethernet LAG, via the distribution site and the third access site, to the Ethernet LAG at the second access site;
• receiving traffic via the first Ethernet LAG;
• determining whether to forward the traffic via the first OCh LAG subpath or the second OCh LAG subpath;
• forwarding the traffic to the third access site via the determined one of the first OCh LAG subpath or the second OCh LAG subpath;
• receiving other traffic via the second Ethernet LAG;
• determining whether to forward the other traffic via the first ODUk LAG subpath or the second ODUk LAG subpath;
• and
• forwarding the other traffic to the second access site via the determined one of the first ODUk LAG subpath or the second ODUk LAG subpath.