Upon detecting a failure of a switch link in a set of multiple redundant switch links that directly connect two nodes in the switch fabric network, the system performs a failover operation that remaps network traffic associated with the failed switch link to an alternative switch link in the set of multiple redundant switch links. Each node in the switch fabric network maintains a mapping table that translates from logical ports and associated logical virtual lanes to physical ports and associated virtual lanes. The system also provisions switch links with private virtual lanes comprising resources to facilitate failover operations. While remapping the network traffic, the system changes the mapping table so that network traffic, which is presently directed to a physical port and associated virtual lane for the failed switch link, is remapped to an alternative physical port and an associated private virtual lane, for the alternative switch link.