Abstract: In a normal operation, line cards LCm1 and LCm2 set transmit ports TXu of user ports UPm1 and UPm2 into an open state, and line cards LCs1 and LCs2 set transmit ports TXu of user ports UPs1 and UPs2 into a blocking state. Here, for example, if a failure occurs in a communication line LNa1, the line card LCm2 detects the failure through a transmission port HPm2, and then changes the transmit port TXu in the user port UPm2 from the open state to the blocking state, and notifies the line card LCs2 of failure detection through a backplane. The line card LCs2 receives the notification of the failure detection, and changes the transmit port TXu in the user port UPs2 from the blocking state to the open state.

Abstract: In a normal operation, line cards LCm1 and LCm2 set transmit ports TXu of user ports UPm1 and UPm2 into an open state, and line cards LCs1 and LCs2 set transmit ports TXu of user ports UPs1 and UPs2 into a blocking state. Here, for example, if a failure occurs in a communication line LNa1, the line card LCm2 detects the failure through a transmission port HPm2, and then changes the transmit port TXu in the user port UPm2 from the open state to the blocking state, and notifies the line card LCs2 of failure detection through a backplane. The line card LCs2 receives the notification of the failure detection, and changes the transmit port TXu in the user port UPs2 from the blocking state to the open state.