A source node of a network transmits a path setup message for requesting a traffic path to a destination node. First and second nodes, located between the source and destination nodes, establishes first and second parallel transport paths on a first fault recovery layer between them. The first node further includes a database for storing identities of the first and second paths as a single virtual link as viewed from the source node. The first node responds to the path setup message for accommodating the traffic path on a second fault recovery layer through the first transport path. Each node accommodates the traffic path through the second transport path when the first transport path fails. The first node advertises recovery type of the virtual link as equal to the recovery type of the first and second transport paths, and/or equal to most unreliable recovery type of its component links.
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Continuation-in-Part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/283,241, filed Oct. 30, 2002.