Method for distributing aggregate route information

Apparatus for distributing routing information pertaining to an aggregate route in an internet protocol (IP) network, comprising:

• a router coupled to the IP network, the router having a modified command language interface configured to obtain a first number of prefix bits of an IP address of the aggregate route, the prefix bits being bits having values in common with IP addresses of devices coupled to the router and accessible via the aggregate route, the router further having an interior gateway protocol (IGP) interface configured to form from the prefix bits without reliance on a next-hop address a route distribution message describing the aggregate route, the IGP interface further configured to send the route distribution message to at least a portion of the IP network coupled to the router.

A method for distributing routing information pertaining to an aggregate route in an internet protocol (IP) network, comprising the steps of:

• determining whether to form a route distribution message based on a static route defined with respect to a next-hop address;
• and
• when not forming the route distribution message based on the static route defined with respect to the next-hop address, forming, in a router, the route distribution message describing the aggregate route and communicating the route distribution message within at least a portion of the IP network.

Apparatus for distributing routing information pertaining to an aggregate route in an internet protocol (IP) network, comprising:

• a router coupled to the IP network, the router configured to determine whether to form a route distribution message based on a static route defined with respect to a next-hop address, the router further configured, when the router determines not to form the route distribution message based on the static route defined with respect to the next-hop address, to form the route distribution message describing the aggregate route and communicating the route distribution message within at least a portion of the IP network, wherein the router forms the route distribution message from a first number of prefix bits of an IP address of the aggregate route, the prefix bits being bits having values in common with IP addresses of devices accessible via the aggregate route.