Calculation of layered routes in a distributed manner

A distributed system and method for generating "layered routes." The layered routes generated by the disclosed system reflect a layered representation of the network. By operating in accord with the layered representation of the network, the disclosed system provides deadlock-free routes. The layered representation consists of an ordered set of layers, where each layer is a deadlock-free sub-topology of the network. In determining routes using links from different layers, the links used in each route are constrained to be taken from layers of non-decreasing order as the route extends from source to destination. A device that determines a better or equal cost path to a destination node with respect to its current path to that node sends a route information message to its neighbor devices, identifying itself, the destination device reachable over the new path, and the number of the layer associated with the first link toward the destination device from the device sending the route information message. The receiver of a route information message may then accept the message and begin using the new path described by the message, or reject the message without using the new path.