System and method for improving network performance by controlling stub-routing behavior

A system and method for enhancing the behavior of a network. In an illustrative embodiment, the network includes a distribution router and plural additional routers connected to the distribution router. The system includes a first module that is adapted to characterize the additional routers as stub routers or non-stub routers and then to provide a signal in response thereto. A second module selectively queries non-stub routers for route information and does not query stub routers for the route information. In a more specific embodiment, the second module includes a unicast module for selectively unicasting queries to the non-stub routers. A multicast module selectively multicasts queries to the non-stub routers via a modified conditional-receive algorithm.