Method and apparatus for flooding link state packets to achieve faster convergence

A computer system operable to flood link state packets or packet data units (LSP's) from a first node to a second node, the computer system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memory, wherein at least one of the processors and memory are adapted for:
• when it is determined that a flood trigger has occurred with respect to the second node, sending the first node's own LSP from the first node to the second node;
• and
• when it is determined that a flood trigger has occurred with respect to the second node and after the first node's own LSP has been sent to the second node, sending a plurality of other LSP's from the first node to the second node,
• wherein the first node's own LSP is sent first and then the other LSP's are sent by the first node to the second node in an order that corresponds to an ascending order of the relative costs associated with a plurality of paths from the first node to each of these other LSP sending nodes.

A computer program product for flooding link state packets or packet data units (LSP's) from a first node to a second node, the computer program product comprising:

• at least one computer readable medium;
• computer program instructions stored within the at least one computer readable product configured for:
• when it is determined that a flood trigger has occurred with respect to the second node, sending the first node's own LSP from the first node to the second node;
• and
• when it is determined that a flood trigger has occurred with respect to the second node and after the first node's own LSP has been sent to the second node, sending a plurality of other LSP's from the first node to the second node,
• wherein the first node's own LSP is sent first and then the other LSP's are sent by the first node to the second node in an order that corresponds to an ascending order of the relative costs associated with a plurality of paths from the first node to each of these other LSP sending nodes.

An apparatus for flooding link state packets or packet data units (LSP's) from a first node to a second node, comprising:

• means for when it is determined that a flood trigger has occurred with respect to the second node, sending the first node's own LSP from the first node to the second node;
• and
• when it is determined that a flood trigger has occurred with respect to the second node and after the first node's own LSP has been sent to the second node, sending a plurality of other LSP's from the first node to the second node,
• wherein the first node's own LSP is sent first and then the other LSP's are sent by the first node to the second node in an order that corresponds to an ascending order of the relative costs associated with a plurality of paths from the first node to each of these other LSP sending nodes.