Mesh islands

A network device operable with a hybrid mesh network having a plurality of network devices and client devices, the plurality of network devices including network interfaces, the network device comprising:

• a memory;
• a first network interface and a second network interface, the first network interface and the second network interface being independently addressable to enable multiple communication pathways within the hybrid mesh network;
• and
• a processor configured to,
• detect a change at one of the network interfaces of at least one of the plurality network devices in the hybrid mesh network, and
• in response to detecting the change at one of the network interfaces, switch communication between a first communication end-to-end path and a second communication end-to-end path of the multiple communication pathways to increase aggregate traffic delivered within the hybrid mesh network.