an apparatus and method that extend the automatic protection switching protocol to address at least 256 network nodes . by using overhead bytes as extended aps node ids , large single ring sonet / sdh systems can be avoided . this means aps messages that force every node into a single ring can be avoided and recovery performance from a break in the ring or a node fault can be improved . the protocol for the extended automatic protection switching channels takes multiple extended aps node ids from tributary lines and merges those extended aps id &# 39 ; s into a single sonet / sdh stream on another line . placement of the extended aps node id &# 39 ; s in the overhead bytes of sonet / sdh frames allows easy relay around each sonet / sdh ring .