Systems and methods for generic non-client specific 1+1 protection are described supporting a uni-directional protection scheme for client interfaces on Optical Transport Network (OTN) networking equipment, regardless of the client protocol and without hardware which can participate in those client protocols. This generic non-client specific 1+1 protection can be implemented in an OTN node, an OTN switching device, or via an OTN method. Faults on client signals are escalated to, and processed at, the ODU path layer instead of the client protocol layer, providing a normalized mechanism for client signal protection.