Router methods and apparatus for managing memory for network overlay routes with fallback route support prioritization

A router device comprising:

• a memory for storing a plurality of network overlay routes for forwarding user plane traffic in a network;
• a processor connected to the memory, the processor being configured to:
• obtain a network overlay route as a candidate network overlay route for storage in the memory;
• perform an assessment for storage of the candidate network overlay route, based at least on a priority level indicator of the candidate network overlay route, the priority level indicator indicative of a fallback route support level relative to at least some priority level indicators of at least some of the stored network overlay routes indicative of their fallback route support levels in the router device, wherein the priority level indicator of the candidate network overlay route is based on a route type of the candidate network overlay route, wherein the processor being configured to perform the assessment for storage of the candidate network overlay route based on the priority level indicator of the candidate network overlay route comprises the processor being configured to:
• determine a route type of the candidate network overlay route;
• and
• identify the priority level indicator of the candidate network overlay route based on the determined route type and a mapping between a plurality of route types and a plurality of priority level indicators, wherein each route type of the plurality of route types is associated with a respective one of the plurality of priority level indicators in accordance with a respective fallback route support level of the route type;
• and
• perform, based on the assessment at least one of the following:
• add the candidate network overlay route to the memory and refrain from adding the candidate network overlay route to the memory.