Host Route Convergence Based on Sequence Values

1. A method at a network device, the method comprising: at a network switch: receiving a previous advertisement including a host network layer address of a host and an existing sequence value associated with the host network layer address; after the receiving, detecting that the host is associated with the network switch, the host being a device or a program application that provides a service; generating a sequence value at the network switch based on the detecting, the generating including changing the received existing sequence value to a next sequential value that represents the sequence value; associating the sequence value with the host network layer address of the host; and transmitting an advertisement to a different network switch, the advertisement including the host network layer address and the sequence value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement includes a network layer address of the network switch, the host being in communication with the network switch.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the sequence value comprises: incrementing the received existing sequence value to the next sequential value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the sequence value comprises: decreasing the received existing sequence value to the next sequential value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the existing sequence value includes a letter, and the changing the sequence value includes changing the letter to a next sequential letter that represents the sequence value.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the changing the letter includes increasing the letter to the next sequential letter that represents the sequence value.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the changing the letter includes decreasing the letter to the next sequential letter that represents the sequence value.

8. An apparatus comprising: a network switch including: a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor, when the instructions are executed the processor being operable to: receive a previous advertisement including a host network layer address of a host and an existing sequence value associated with the host network layer address; after the previous advertisement is received, generate, based on detecting that the host is associated with the network switch, a sequence value at the network switch, wherein the processor is configured to generate by changing the received existing sequence value to a next sequential value that represents the sequence value, the host being a device or a program application that provides a service; associate the sequence value with the host network layer address of the host; and transmit an advertisement to a different network switch, the advertisement including the host network layer address and the sequence value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the advertisement includes a network layer address of the network switch, the host being in communication with the network switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further operable to: increment the received existing sequence value to the next sequential value.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further operable to: decrease the received existing sequence value to the next sequential value.

12. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network switch, cause the network switch to perform operations comprising: receiving a previous advertisement including a host network layer address of a host and an existing sequence value associated with the host network layer address; after the receiving, detecting that the host is associated with the network switch, the host being a device or a program application that provides a service; generating a sequence value at the network switch based on the detecting, the generating including changing the received existing sequence value to a next sequential value that represents the sequence value; associating the sequence value with the host network layer address of the host; and transmitting an advertisement to a different network switch, the advertisement including the host network layer address and the sequence value.

13. The storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the advertisement includes a network layer address of the network switch, the host being in communication with the network switch.

14. The storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the generating the sequence value comprises: incrementing the received existing sequence value to the next sequential value.

15. The storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the generating the sequence value comprises: decreasing the received existing sequence value to the next sequential value.