A diversification route (Connection-B) is generated after establishing a first path (Connection-A) through the network (10) between an ingress client node (12) and an egress client node (14) through a first ingress network element (16) within the optical network. Information identifying the first network element is passed by the ingress client node (12) to a second network element (18) in the network. Information identifying the first path and desired diversity type is passed from the second network element (18) to the first network element (16). In response to receiving the information identifying the first path, an entity list associated with the first path is passed from the first network element (16) to the second network element (18). The second path (Connection-B) is established responsive to the information associated with the first path (Connection-A).