Abstract: A system and method for managing information describing a communications network. In accordance with the present invention, a set of communication devices are identified, and one or more identifiers are assigned to each of the devices. A workbook storing the assigned identifiers is maintained, and a network specification book is provided. The network specification book includes specification information associated with the communications network, including the assigned identifiers. An update tool is utilized to automatically insert at least a portion of the specification information into the workbook.

Abstract: The present method for advanced fail-over packet label swapping for a packet network having a working path and a protection path, each of the working path and protection path interconnected by a near-end switch and a far-end switch includes: provisioning the working path, protection path, near-end switch, and far-end switch with a failure counter delay; monitoring heartbeat packets on one of the near-end switch and the far-end switch during a monitoring period to determine a number of packets that were not received by at least one of the switches during the monitoring period; determining if the determined number of packets exceeds a predetermined lost packet value for the failure counter delay; and responsive to the determined number of packets exceeding the predetermined lost packet value, delaying the monitoring for a period of time equal to the failure counter delay.