Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with computing path costs based on link cost as a primary metric and hop cost as a secondary metric are presented. The secondary metric facilitates distinguishing between what would be equal cost multi-paths if only link cost was employed. One example method includes computing a modified link cost for a plurality of paths between switches. The example method may also include determining a lowest modified link cost associated with a path between the switches. The example method may also include providing a signal identifying the lowest modified link cost.