Abstract: A method for improving efficiency of redundancy protocols used in a network is provided. The network comprises a first router running a program instance of a router redundancy protocol in a master state at a first interface and a dynamic protocol at a second interface, and a second router running another program instance of the router redundancy protocol in a backup state at a first interface and the dynamic protocol at a second interface. The program instance at the second router takes over the roles of the program instance at the first router during a failure of the first router. The method comprises establishing an online status of the first router, initiating a routing convergence process by the dynamic protocol at the first router, and taking over the roles from the program instance at the second router by the program instance at the first router when the routing convergence process has ended.

Abstract: Load-aware spanning tree reconfiguration includes determining volumes for information flows in an existing spanning tree in a network. The spanning tree is reconfigured based on the volumes to provide higher-volume information flows with shorter paths in the reconfigured spanning tree.