Abstract: A method for routing data, using a stateless routing protocol includes communicating data between a source host and a destination host in a network with a plurality of hosts. Each host in the network has a unique numerical address. The method comprises determining a least common ancestor host of the source host and the destination host using the unique numerical address of each of the source and destination hosts. The data is sent from the source host to the least common ancestor host, and then sent from the least common ancestor host to the destination host. Alternatively, the data can be routed using a stateful routing protocol in which each host records the address of its neighbors and forwards the data to the neighbor host that is closest to the destination host.