Various example embodiments for supporting packet routing in a communication system may be configured to, in a communication network, support use of primary routing paths for routing traffic in the communication network and use of controller provided protection paths configured to protect the primary paths based on rerouting of traffic around failures in the communication network. Various example embodiments for supporting packet routing in a communication system may be configured to support controller provided protection paths in a communication network based on use of path control capabilities in which a network controller computes paths for a network and configures the paths in the network based on configuration of the paths on nodes of the network and based on routing capabilities in which the nodes use the routing paths for routing of traffic (e.g., via primary paths) and rerouting of traffic (e.g., via controller provided protection paths).