A router and methods for routing packets in a network are described. The router and methods are implemented with a dynamic link state routing protocol (DLSP). The router dynamically computes a best path from one or more paths by periodically probing links of peer nodes to determine link metrics associated with a link. The one or more link metrics include a link bandwidth to a peer node and a link latency to the peer node. Further, the router can dynamically recalculate the one or more link metrics associated with the link every 10 seconds. The router can also monitor one or more link state changes based on the one or more link metrics, wherein the link state changes are monitored every 60 second. The router can further determine a single link metric based on the link bandwidth to the peer node and the link latency to the peer node.