Backup route for network devices in multihoming configuration

A network device operable with a peer network device for multihoming a host, the peer network device being in an active configuration for the multihoming of the host, the network device comprising:

• control circuitry configured to
• receive a route message containing a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the host and an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the host and advertised by the peer network device,
• store an active path, for reaching the host, that is indicated by the route message advertised by the peer network device and that is remote from the network device, and
• advertise a backup route message containing the MAC address of the host, the IP address of the host, and a label, wherein the backup route message identifies an Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) type-2 route as a backup route and wherein the label comprises a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) label indicative of using the EVPN type-2 route as the backup route;
• and
• a packet processor configured to receive traffic encapsulated with the MPLS label and destined for the host and forward the received traffic toward the host using a local link attached to the host.

A method for operating an active Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) network device configured to multihome, with a standby EVPN network device, a host device via an Ethernet segment, the method comprising:

• advertising, by the active EVPN network device, a first Media Access Control (MAC) and Internet Protocol (IP) advertisement route indicative of a first link between the active EVPN network device and the host device that forms the Ethernet segment;
• receiving, by the active EVPN network device, a backup MAC and IP advertisement route advertised by the standby EVPN network device indicative of a second link between the standby EVPN network device and the host device that forms the Ethernet segment, wherein the backup MAC and IP advertisement route includes a community tag in an extended community indicating that the backup MAC and IP advertisement route is a backup route and wherein the backup MAC and IP advertisement route includes a label indicative of using the backup MAC and IP advertisement route;
• storing, at a routing information base of the active EVPN network device, a backup path for reaching the host device via the standby EVPN network device based on the backup MAC and IP advertisement route;
• and
• after failure of the first link,
• forwarding traffic destined for the host device at least in part by encapsulating the traffic to include the label based on the stored backup path.