The present invention provides a method for permitting fully detailed
advertising of reachability information for some addresses in a network
while efficiently summarizing reachability information for other
addresses. At least one embodiment is implemented as part of a process
used by logical nodes for advertising reachability information for
members of a group of nodes represented by the logical node. At least one
embodiment provides an "exception" instruction that allows detailed
reachable address information to be advertised for an address that would
otherwise be included in summary address information. At least one
embodiment allows detailed reachability information to be advertised for
the particular address while still allowing summarization of reachable
address information for addresses sharing a common prefix with the
"exception" address. At least one embodiment thereby allows detailed
information to be advertised where needed while allowing summary address
information to be advertised where such detailed information is not
needed.