Packet network linear protection systems and methods in a dual home or multi-home configuration

A network configured to implement linear protection in a dual home or multi-home network configuration, the network comprising:

• an end node communicatively coupled to a plurality of home nodes;
• wherein each of the end node and the plurality of home nodes are configured to
• implement a protection switch state machine based on a linear protection protocol, wherein the protection switch state machine is configured to support a plurality of linear protection protocols comprising the linear protection protocol,
• synchronize the protection switch state machines with one another,
• implement operations between one another based on the protection switch state machines, and
• responsive to a fault, update the associated protection switch state machines without synchronizing over a link associated with the fault and perform protection switching.

A linear protection method in a dual home or multi-home network configuration with an end node communicatively coupled to a plurality of home nodes, the linear protection method comprising:

• operating a protection switch state machine based on a linear protection protocol at each of the plurality of home nodes and the end node, wherein the protection switch state machine is configured to support a plurality of linear protection protocols comprising the linear protection protocol;
• synchronizing the protection switch state machines with one another;
• and
• implementing operations between the plurality of home nodes and the end node based on the protection switch state machines,
• wherein the protection switch state machines adapt states from Automatic Protection Switching (APS) in G.8031, IEEE 802.1ay, RFC 6718, and RFC 6377 into a common format with associated operations independent of the associated linear protection protocol.