Patent ID: 7292585

Claim:
A system comprising: a network; a plurality of nodes coupled via the network; wherein the plurality of nodes includes two or more nodes that each host an instance of a first network address, wherein N is the number of nodes that host an instance of the first network address; wherein the plurality of nodes includes a first node operable to route a message to the first network address so that the message reaches each of the N nodes that host an instance of the first network address; wherein the first node stores routing information for routing the message to the first network address; wherein the routing information stored by the first node comprises information regarding less than N instances of the first network address; wherein the plurality of nodes includes a second node which hosts a first instance of the first network address; wherein the second node stores routing information for routing the message to the first network address; and wherein the routing information stored by the second node comprises information regarding all N instances of the first network address.