Patent ID: 7535828

Claim:
A method for performing fast reroute (FRR) operations at the edge of a computer network, the computer network having an edge device coupled to a neighboring routing domain, the method comprising: identifying a set of multiple possible backup edge devices for an address prefix advertised by a device in the neighboring routing domain; associating one or more metrics with each of the address prefix's identified possible backup edge devices; detecting a loss of communication between the edge device and the neighboring routing domain; selecting a preferred backup edge device from the address prefix's identified set of possible backup edge devices based on the value of at least one of the metrics associated with the possible backup edge devices; receiving a data packet at the edge device, the received data packet containing a destination address matching the address prefix; determining whether the received data packet was previously rerouted in accordance with FRR operations; and rerouting, in response to determining that the received data packet was not previously rerouted, the received data packet to the preferred backup edge device for forwarding to the neighboring routing domain.