Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a data packet at a routing engine of a node of a network. A route is selected, from a forwarding table of the node, for sending the data packet from the node to a destination of the data packet. The forwarding table includes route characteristics, including route costs, related to two or more routes from the node to the destination. The selected route is analyzed, by a hardware computing device, to determine whether the selected route is suitable to convey the data packet based on real-time traffic information. The data packet is returned to the routing engine if the selected route is determined unsuitable to convey the data packet. An alternate route is selected, from the forwarding table, for the data packet in place of the previous selected route if the previous selected route is unsuitable to convey the data packet.