Method and apparatus for providing tandem connection, performance monitoring, and protection architectures over ethernet protocols

A network element suitable for processing an Ethernet packet, the packet including at least one frame and a preamble arrangement, the preamble arrangement including at least one preamble associated with at least one frame, the network element comprising:

• means for receiving a packet from a first node included in a network path;
• means for determining whether at least one error has arisen between a source of the network path and the network element;
• and
• means for inserting a first error count indication in the preamble arrangement which substantially accounts for the at least one error when it is determined that the error has arisen between the source of the network path and the second network element.

A network element suitable for processing an Ethernet packet, the packet including at least one frame and a preamble arrangement, the preamble arrangement including at least one preamble associated wit at least one frame, the network element comprising:

• code devices that cause a packet to be received from a first node included in a network path;
• code devices that cause a determination of whether at least one error has arisen between a source of the network path and the network element;
• and
• code devices that cause a first error count indication to be inserted in the preamble arrangement which substantially accounts for the at least one error when it is determined that the error has arisen between the source of the network path and the second network element.