A method, computer program product, and system are provided for selecting, from a plurality of routes through the data processing system, a direct route for transmitting data. Data that includes address information is received at a first processor that is to be transmitted to a destination processor. Using routing table data structures, direct route entries are identified that correspond to direct routes for transmitting data. An accessed priority table data structure comprises a priority entry for each entry in the routing table data structures. The priority entry specifies a priority of a corresponding entry in the routing table data structures. A direct route entry is selected that corresponds to a direct route from the routing table data structures, based on specified priorities. Then the data is transmitted from the first processor to the destination processor using a path corresponding to the selected direct route entry.