Skip to main content

Routing Protocols

Routers allow traffic to leave their network and continue to another networks.

Every routing protocol has three basic functions:

  • Discovery: process of identifying other routers on the network.
  • Route management: keeps track of possible destination and describing the path of each (distance & time).
  • Path determination: determine the best path to reach destination.
    • Link State: routers build and track a network map of all network links.
    • Distance Vector: allow routers to work with less information about the full network area.

Common protocols​

  • RIP: Designed for small networks, 15 hops.
  • OSPF: Open public standard, Link State protocol.
  • EIGPR: Succesor of OSPF, Distance Vector protocol.
  • IS-IS: Similar to OSPF but more easily adapted to different environments.
  • BGP, Border Gateway Protocol: detects modifications to the routing tables and communicates these changes to othe routers.