Routing does not use an exponential NP-Complete algorithm (like the travelling salesman). The travelling salesman problem tries to solve the cheapest way in which a salesman can visit every one of a set of cities. In fact, routing can be done in order (n) with a bounded metric and bounded distance, since it really is only trying to find the cheapest way to get to a single destination.
What I don't know, is why is it that SS7, the telephone routing protocol, can do some of the things that are required, like load sharing across unequal paths, for example. Does anyone have any insight into this?
--Neal
Quick comment: You're looking at the computing of routes wrt one router. I'm suggesting that perhaps we should consider the set of all routers since we're concerned about spreading load due to the quick communication from one router to many of every best external-path changing. But no, I'm not familiar with SS7, and I've not even been thinking deeply about other routing algorithm possibilities. I was just suggesting that people are encouraged to do so... Avi