Automated notification of upcoming network disruptive maintenance events to allow traffic to be rerouted

摘要

In one embodiment, notifications of upcoming maintenance activities are provided by network devices, such as to allow packet switching or other optical layer client devices to reroute traffic prior to the occurrence of the traffic affecting event. For example, one such network device includes optical interfaces for coupling with fibers for transporting information using dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM); DWDM switching equipment for cross-connecting wavelengths of the fibers; and a controller configured to inform packet switching or other optical layer client devices whose traffic would be affected by an upcoming event that would disrupt communication on one or more wavelengths on one or more fibers so that the packet switching or other optical layer client devices can reroute traffic that would otherwise go over said one or more wavelengths onto a different path in a network prior to said disruption.