Patent ID: 7136383
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A first router that supports a virtual router protocol, the first router being capable of sending a redirect packet to a host, the redirect packet notifying the host that specific packets are to be redirected to a second router, comprising: a processor; and a memory, at least one of the processor and the memory being adapted for; receiving a packet from the host, the packet including a source address identifying the host and a destination address identifying a destination network; ascertaining the destination network of the packet from the destination address; obtaining from a routing table an address of a next router that is coupled to the packet's destination network; determining whether the next router and the host identified by the source address of the packet are on the same network; and when it is determined that the next router and the host are on the same network, composing the redirect packet notifying the host that packets addressed to the destination network are to be redirected to a virtual address of the next router and sending the redirect packet to the host; wherein determining whether the next router and the host identified by the source address of the packet are on the same network comprises: determining from the routing table that a next hop to reach the destination network is back out the same interface that the packet was received on.