Using an attribute value to set a preferred egress point in multi-site logical routers

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for selecting an egress point for accessing an external network associated with a distributed logical router that is distributed across at least a first computing device and a second computing device, the instructions, when executed, control the first computing device to be operable for:

• receiving, by an instance of the logical router at the first computing device, first identification information and a first preference value based on first timing information, wherein the first identification information identifies an instance of the logical router in the second computing device, and wherein the first preference value indicates a preference associated with an egress point connected to the instance of the logical router in the second computing device;
• comparing, by the instance of the logical router at the first computing device, the first preference value to a second preference value based on second timing information that increases at a different rate than the first timing information, wherein the second preference value is associated with second identification information corresponding to a current computing device that is identified as a current preferred egress point for the logical router, and wherein the current preferred egress point for the logical router is different from the egress point connected to the instance of the logical router in the second computing device;
• and
• determining, based on the comparing and by the instance of the logical router at the first computing device, whether to set the egress point connected to the instance of the logical router in the second computing device as a new preferred egress point for the logical router.

A method for selecting an egress point for accessing an external network associated with a distributed logical router that is distributed across at least a first computing device and a second computing device, the method comprising:

• receiving, by an instance of a logical router at the first computing device, a selection of the instance of the logical router at the first computing device as a preferred egress point for the logical router;
• generating, by the instance of the logical router at the first computing device, a first preference value based on first timing information that changes over time;
• and
• advertising, by the instance of the logical router at first computing device, identification information for the instance of the logical router at the first computing device and the first preference value to other instances of logical routers at other computing devices to indicate the instance of the logical router at the first computing device is the preferred egress point, wherein an instance of the logical router at a second computing device compares the first preference value to a second preference value of the second computing device determine whether to set the identification information for the instance of the logical router at the first computing device as a new preferred egress point, the second preference value based on second timing information that changes over time at a different rate than the first timing information.