Non-eligible Distance Vector Protocol Paths as Backup Paths

In one embodiment, non-eligible distance vector protocol paths are used as backup paths. In one embodiment, the distance vector protocol is Enhanced Interior Gateway Protocol (EIGRP) and unless a path is a feasible successor for a destination, the path is not eligible as a backup path. Therefore, if there is no feasible successor, there is no eligible backup path. One embodiment avoids an initial delay in finding a replacement path for traffic by determining and installing a non-eligible backup path (e.g., a path that is not a feasible successor) in one or more forwarding tables. In this manner, the router can immediately forward packets over this non-eligible backup path until, for example, forwarding in the network can converge in light of the primary path being no longer available.