Fast ospf inactive router detection

A system for rerouting communication packets from a failed router to an alternate router in an Wide Area Network (“LAN”), said system comprising:

• a first router in data connection to said LAN, said first router comprises:
• a first processor;
• and
• a first computer readable medium electronically coupled to said first processor;
• a second router in data connection to said LAN, said second router comprises:
• a second processor;
• and
• a second computer readable medium electronically coupled to said second processor;
• a plurality of routers data connected to said LAN;
• said first processor being in data communication with said second processor;
• and
• a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said second computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause said second processor to perform the steps of:
• detecting a failure of said first router;
• removing an ID of said first router from a communication packet;
• sending said communication packet to at least one of said plurality of routers, said communication packet instructing said at least one of said plurality of routers switch data communications from said first router to said second router;
• and
• sending a probe packet to said first router.