This object specifies the type of protection being provided by this ring instance. The following two protection switching types are possible: portBased - Port Based Protection This ring applies the protection switching mechanism for all traffic that pass through its ring ports. Hence when ERP control process decides to block or unblock a ring port, all data traffic that passes through that port gets affected. serviceBased - Service Based Protection. This ring applies the protection switching mechanism only for the set of vlans mapped to this ring instance. Hence when ERP control process decides to block or unblock a ring port, only the data traffic of the vlans that are mapped to this ring instance and that passes through that port gets affected. All ring nodes in a single ring instance must be configured with the same protection type. In a single virtual context one ring can run in port based protection mode and another ring can run in service based protection mode. It is not recommended to configure a port as ring port in a port based ring instance as well as in a service based ring instance. It is not recommended to configure a port as ring port in multiple port based ring instance. The ring protection type can be modified only when the row status of the ring entry in not in service.