SDN networks can have both legacy and OpenFlow network elements which are managed by the SDN controller. When the entire switch fails, leading to multiple link failures, addressing link failures may become inefficient, if it is addressed at the link level. Hence, an extensive approach to address the failure at the switch level, by including the failure rerouting code at the switch prior to the faulty switch, so that minimal configuration changes can be made and those changes can be made proactively. The objective of this work is to detect switch failures by including detection logic at the switch prior to the faulty switch. The link failure is examined in terms of a single link failure or failure of a subsequent switch. Link failure if it is due to failure of a subsequent switch, corrective action is taken proactively for all links which are affected by the switch failure. © 2019, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.