Phased network formation for power restoration

A method comprising:

• providing, by a device in a network, a first instruction to a first node in the network that causes the first node to delay a disconnected node from joining the network;
• determining, by the device, whether formation of the network should continue being delayed;
• and
• providing, by the device, a second instruction to the first node that causes the first node to stop delaying the disconnected node from joining the network, based on a determination that formation of the network should no longer be delayed.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with a network;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute a process;
• and
• a memory configured to store the process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• provide a first instruction to a first node in the network that causes the first node to delay a disconnected node from joining the network;
• determine whether formation of the network should continue being delayed;
• and
• provide a second instruction to the first node that causes the first node to stop delaying the disconnected node from joining the network, based on a determination that formation of the network should no longer be delayed.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor of a device operable to:

• provide a first instruction to a first node in the network that causes the first node to delay a disconnected node from joining the network;
• determine whether formation of the network should continue being delayed;
• and
• provide a second instruction to the first node that causes the first node to stop delaying the disconnected node from joining the network, based on a determination that formation of the network should no longer be delayed.