Abstract: A high availability network mechanism (100) is provided having a primary node (105) and at least one secondary node (120) utilizing Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (“VRRP”) compatible redundancy systems. The primary and secondary nodes (105 and 120) are associated with access routers (110 and 130, respectively) that are associated with edge routers (115 and 130, respectively). A virtual IP address is associated with the primary node (105) with a first cost assigned to the primary node (105). The same virtual IP address is associated with the secondary node (120) with a second cost assigned to the secondary node (120). A core IP network (135) utilizing an Open Shortest Path First (“OSPF”) compatible redundancy system is accessible through the edge routers (115 and 130) such that the primary and secondary nodes (105 and 120) advertise the virtual IP address with different costs on the IP network (135).