Abstract: A data network may comprise routers for transmitting data between locations in the network via alternative routes. A network gateway or server may normally send data packets to a particular default router but, for network communication recovery, the gateway needs to select a new default route if the first goes down. The recovery method of this invention comprises storing information indicative of respective ones of a plurality of said alternative routes; accessing the stored information to identify a first of said routes; directing data to the router means for the data to be transmitted to the said another location via the first route; sensing failure of said transmission and, in the event of such failure, accessing said stored information to identify a second of said alternative routes; and directing data to the router means for the data to be transmitted to the said another location via the second route.