Managing host routes for local computer networks with a plurality of field area routers

A method, comprising:

• advertising, into a global computer network, from a particular field area router (FAR) in a local computer network having a plurality of FARs, a common subnet prefix assigned to the local computer network, wherein each of the plurality of FARs of the local computer network is configured to accept any traffic destined to the local computer network;
• building a tunnel overlay among the plurality of FARs of the local computer network;
• receiving a packet at the particular FAR destined to a particular device in the local computer network;
• and
• in response to the particular FAR not having a host route to the particular device, selecting a specific FAR of the plurality of FARs to forward the packet to on the tunnel overlay and forwarding the packet on the tunnel overlay to the selected FAR,
• wherein the tunnel overlay is a ring, and wherein
• selecting a specific FAR of the plurality of FARs to which to forward the packet on the tunnel overlay is based on the specific FAR being a next FAR on the ring.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface to communicate in a local computer network having a plurality of field area routers (FARs);
• a network interface to communicate in a global computer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a FAR process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• advertise, into the global computer network, a common subnet prefix assigned to the local computer network, wherein each of the plurality of FARs of the local computer network is configured to accept any traffic destined to the local computer network;
• build a tunnel overlay among the plurality of FARs of the local computer network;
• receive a packet destined to a particular device in the local computer network;
• and
• in response to not having a host route to the particular device, select a specific FAR of the plurality of FARs to forward the packet to on the tunnel overlay and forward the packet on the tunnel overlay to the selected FAR,
• wherein the tunnel overlay is fully connected, and
• wherein selecting the specific FAR of the plurality of FARs to which to forward the packet on the tunnel overlay is based on the specific FAR not having already received the packet.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface to communicate in a local computer network having a plurality of field area routers (FARs);
• a network interface to communicate in a global computer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a FAR process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• advertise, into the global computer network, a common subnet prefix assigned to the local computer network, wherein each of the plurality of FARs of the local computer network is configured to accept any traffic destined to the local computer network;
• build a tunnel overlay among the plurality of FARs of the local computer network;
• receive a packet destined to a particular device in the local computer network;
• and
• in response to not having a host route to the particular device, select a specific FAR of the plurality of FARs to forward the packet to on the tunnel overlay and forward the packet on the tunnel overlay to the selected FAR,
• wherein the tunnel overlay is a ring, and wherein the process to:
• select a specific FAR of the plurality of FARs to which to forward the packet on the tunnel overlay is based on the specific FAR being a next FAR on the ring.