ROUTING AND

SWITCHING
CONCEPTS:
 PROTOCOLS AND ROUTING
PROTOCOLS
 Protocol : These are a set of rules or guidelines that devices follow to
communicate with each other on the network.
 Routing Protocol: These are rules and processes that routers use to
communicate with each other and determine the best paths for data
packets to travel through a network.
 Routing protocols are also used to discover available routers within the
network and find the least costly route to target the router.
 The information from the routing discovery is used to build routing
tables from for the connected routers. Then , each router uses its
routing table when making routing decisions.
 Routing tables : are used to store paths between routers, when
sending data , each router uses the table to find the shortest less costly
path to the target router to ensure efficient data transfer.
 There are four primary protocols and thus they include:
1. Distance Vector Protocols.
2. Path Vector Protocols.
3. Link-State Protocols.
4. Hybrid Protocols.

 And some of the routing protocols are:

1. Routing Information Protocol (RIP).
2. Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP).
3. Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP).
4. Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP).
5. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).
6. Open Shortest Path First(OSPF).
 ROUTING PROTOCOLS
1.Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
 The Router Information Protocol is a Distance Vector Protocol and one of the oldest
protocols used.
 The Router Information Protocol is used in Local Area Networks (LANs) and
Wide Area Networks(WANs) and also runs in the Application Layer in the OSI
Model.
 There are multiple Routing Information Protocols (RIPs) and thus they include
RIPv1 and RIPv2.
 RIPv1 is the original version and determines network paths based on the IP
destination and the hop count of the journey . This is achieved by interacting with
the network by broadcasting its IP Routing Table to all routers connected to the
network .
 RIPv2 is more advanced than RIPv1.It sends its routing table on to a multicast
address. RIPv2 also uses authentication to keep data more secure and chooses a
subnet mask and gateway for future traffic.
 A broadcast sends data to all the devices on a network within a specific
subnet ,regardless of whether they need it or not . While a multicast sends data
to only a specific group of devices that have experienced interest in receiving it.
 Advantages of Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
1. The Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is relatively straightforward to
understand and implement.
2. It operates on the application layer thus making it easy to manage and
configure.
3. RIPv2 can multicast its routing table . Hence, providing a more efficient way
to communicate with other routers other than broadcasting.
4. RIPv2 offers authentication measures to enhance data security.

Disadvantages of Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

5. RIPv1’s method of broadcasting its entire table can lead to increased traffic
and potential inefficiencies.
6. Routing Information Protocol’s (RIP) maximum hop count of 15 restricts its
use in larger networks.
7. Due to its hop count limitation , it is not suited for modern expansive
networks.
8. Routing Information Protocol (RIP) can be slower to adapt to network changes
 2. Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
 Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP) is a Distance Vector Protocol used to
exchange routing information between routers within the same Autonomous Network,
hence ensuring efficiency and stable routing in large and complex networks.
 An Autonomous System (AS) are inter-networks under the control of a single
administration/ single organization.
 The Interior Gateway Routing Protocol is proprietary based protocol owned by CISCO.
 It calculates routes based on multiple factors including Bandwidth, delay , reliability
and load hence making it more versatile than Routing Information Protocol (RIP).
 In a Topology network, Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP) is responsible for
ensuring that every router has up to date routing tables with the best available
routes.
 It updates itself with changes happening within the network to avoid routing loops.
 Unlike the RIP which has a maximum hop count of 15 , the maximum hop count of
the Interior Gateway routing protocol is 255 which is well suited for larger networks
and complex technologies . It is basically scalable.
 The Interior Gateway Routing Protocol has been largely replaced by the Enhanced
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol.
 Advantages of Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
1. IGRP is well suited for large networks, due to its large hop count of 255
compared to the RIP’s hop count of 15.
2. It uses a composite metric based on factors like bandwidth , delay ,reliability
and load hence offering more accurate route selection compared to simpler
protocols which solely depends on the hop count.
3. The use of metrics such as reliability and load ensures that the protocol can
adapt to changes in network conditions providing more bandwidth.

Disadvantages of Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)

4. Vendor dependency: IGRP is a CISCO-Proprietary protocol, hence it only
works on CISCO devices thus restricting its use in mixed-vendor
environments where interoperability is needed.
5. High Bandwidth usage: IGRP sends periodic routing updates which can
consume significant network bandwidth , especially in large networks.
6. Complex configuration: Its metric system is based on multiple factors
such as bandwidth and delay can be complex to configure and troubleshoot,
hence requiring most expertise from network administrators.
 3. Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)
 Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is a CISCO-Proprietary advanced distance
vector routing protocol which is responsible for managing and directing data traffic within an
Autonomous network.
 Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing protocol (EIGRP) is a hybrid routing protocol. Hence
combining the features of Distance vector protocol and the link state protocol, thus making it
more efficient and scalable for large and complex networks.
 EIGRP uses the Diffusing Update Algorithm(DUAL) to calculate the best path and backup paths
to destinations,. This ensures loop-free and highly reliable routing.
 Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) calculates the most efficient routes to
send data by considering factors such as Bandwidth, Delay, Reliability and Load. Hence
selecting the best paths to the destination.
 It also maintains a table of available routes in the network and actively updates it whenever
there are changes to the network topology.
 Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol enables load balancing, distributing network
traffic across multiple available paths, which optimizes resource usage and prevents
congestion.
 The EIRGP protocol tends to maintain a topology table, which stores backup routes incase the
primary route fails. This in turn ensures that the network can quickly adapt and re-route data
without any disruptions.
 It supports large-scale networks by reducing bandwidth usage with incremental updates . Only
sending updates instead of full routing tables.
 EIRPG has protocol independence. In the sense that beyond just IPV4 ,it can manage routing
 Advantages of Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)
1. EIGRP is scalable and works effectively in both small and large networks,
handling complex topologies and extensive routing tables with ease.
2. It can work with multiple network layer protocols including IPV4 and IPv6,
giving it versatility across different network environments.
3. With its metrics like bandwidth , delay , reliability and load , EIRGP selects the
most optimal paths for data transmission, ensuring consistent and dependable/
reliable routing.
4. EIRGP tends to have reduced bandwidth usage .This is achieved by the
incremental updates rather than full updates of the routing table thus
conserving the Bandwidth in the network.
Disadvantages of Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)
5. EIGRP is Cisco-Proprietary software hence it operates on CISCO devices or in
environments using specific Cisco-licensed software. Thus, limiting
interoperability in mixed vendor networks.
6. Unlike some protocols such as the Open shortest Path First(OSPF) and Border
Gateway Protocol (BGP), EIGRP is not universally standardized. Thus, this
reduces its adoption outside environments fully committed to cisco technology.
7. For network administrators unfamiliar with Cisco’s proprietary protocols,,
 4. Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)
 Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) is a protocol, that is used to exchange
data between the gateway hosts that neighbor each autonomous
systems.
 Exterior Gateway protocol facilitates the sharing of routing information
between neighboring autonomous systems , ensuring that the data
packets can find their way across networks.
 The routing table of the Exterior Gateway Protocol includes known
routers, route costs and network addresses of the neighboring devices
hence becoming easy to determine which networks are reachable
through a particular autonomous system.
 Exterior Gateway Protocol supports a hierarchical structure , which
simplifies the management of large-scale networks.
 Unlike modern protocols like Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Exterior
Gateway Protocol has limitations in scalability and flexibility, which is
why it has been largely replaced by the Border Gateway Protocol.
 The reason as to why the Exterior Gateway protocol is almost obsolete is
because it does not support multipath networking environments.
 Advantages of Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)
1. It allows gateway hosts to share information across distinct network domains,
effectively acting as a bridge.
2. It has a routing database which contains comprehensive information , including
known routers, route costs and the address of the neighboring devices.
3. It facilitates path information sharing as it sends route data to neighboring
routers, thus helping them update their table and help them make better
routing decisions.
Disadvantages of Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)
4. Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) is not suitable for modern multipath
environments thus limiting its adaptability.
5. EGP’s method of sharing all the route data with neighboring routers can lead to
redundant data transmission and thus leading to larger routing tables.
6. As EGP keeps a database of nearby networks , its path determinations are more
static , hence making it less flexible than newer protocols.
7. As networks grew, EGP struggled with handling larger more complex networks.
8. The EGP is obsolete . Hence being replaced by other protocols such as the BGP.
 5. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
 Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a path vector protocol which is responsible
for directing traffic between different autonomous systems on the internet.
 Unlike the traditional distance vector protocols such as RIP which calculates
distances, the Border gateway protocol is a path vector protocol where it
functions by tracking the sequence of the autonomous systems a route
passes through, giving network administrators control over routing decisions.
 Border Gateway Routing (BGP) is flexible thus allowing network
administrators to define custom policies for route selection based on business
and technical priorities , such as preferring certain paths or avoiding others.
 Border Gateway Routing (BGP) helps maintain stable connections by
detecting failed paths and rerouting traffic through alternative routes .
 Border Gateway Protocol is designed to handle the massive scale of the
internet, managing extensive routing tables and ensuring robust connectivity.
 There are two types of Border Gateway Routing and thus they include :
i. Internal BGP (iBGP) : Which is used for routing within a single
autonomous system.
ii. External BGP (eBGP) : Which is used for routing between different
autonomous systems.
 Advantages of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
1. BGP is scalable. It is designed to handle the vast size of the internet. It
efficiently manages extensive routing tables with thousands of routes , making
it suitable for global networks.
2. With its support for policy-based routing, BGP allows network administrators to
customize route selection and prioritize paths based on organizational needs,
business priorities or technical criteria thus bringing about the factor of
flexibility.
3. BGP ensures network resilience by maintaining multiple routes to a destination.
Incase of a path failure ,BGP can easily re-route traffic using an alternative
route
Disadvantages of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
4. BGP requires considerable CPU , memory and bandwidth resources to handle
the large-scale routing tables used in global networks, which can strain less
capable routers.
5. BGP has complex configurations thus requiring an expert to configure and
manage. Misconfigurations can lead to serious issues , such as route leaks thus
impacting large portions of the internet.
6. By default BGP does not include robust security features. Hence threats like
 6. Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
• Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol is a link state IGP protocol designed for dynamic routing
within a single autonomous system.
• It is based on the link-state routing methodology and uses Dijkstra algorithm to compute the shortest
path to each destination.
• It maintains a complete map of the network topology by exchanging link-state advertisements
between routers.
• Changes in the network are quickly detected , and routing tables are updated efficiently thus ensuring
minimal disruption.
• Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) supports Variable Length Subnet Mask and Classless Inter-Domain
Routing, which allows more efficient IP address management.
• OSPF can be divided into areas, which reduce routing table sizes and improve scalability in large
networks.
• OSPF uses a customizable cost to determine the best path, offering more precision in route selection.
• OSPF uses multicast for routing updates, which conserves bandwidth and limits unnecessary data
transmission to non-relevant routers.
• OSPF supports secure communications through authentication methods, reducing risks of
unauthorized routing updates.
The OSPF Works in the following way:
1. Routers form adjacencies with their directly connected neighbors by exchanging "Hello" packets or
routers share LSAs to build a complete map of the network's topology.
 Advantages of Open Shortest Path First Protocol (OSPF)
1. OSPF quickly detects changes in the network (e.g., a failed link) and updates its routing
tables efficiently. This minimizes downtime and ensures reliable communication.
2. By using the Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm, OSPF calculates routes that are inherently
loop-free, ensuring optimal and accurate path selection.
3. OSPF supports Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM) and Classless Inter-Domain Routing
(CIDR), allowing for more efficient IP address usage and improved flexibility in network
design.
4. Routing updates in OSPF are only sent when changes occur, not periodically. Additionally,
multicast addresses are used for updates, limiting unnecessary transmission to non-
relevant routers.
Disadvantages of Open Shortest Path First Protocol (OSPF)
5. OSPF can be challenging to set up and manage, especially in large networks with multiple
areas. It requires significant expertise to configure properly, and mistakes can lead to
connectivity issues.
6. OSPF reacts quickly to topology changes, but this can also lead to frequent recalculations
of routes in unstable networks, potentially causing temporary disruptions .
7. Some advanced OSPF features may not be supported uniformly across devices
from different vendors, leading to interoperability challenges.
8. OSPF routers need to synchronize their topology databases for consistency. This
dependence can slow down initial setup and recovery in large networks.
 BASIC PROTOCOLS
Distance Vector Protocols
 Distance vector protocols are a type of dynamic routing protocol used in
computer networks to determine the best path for data packets.
 In the Distance Vector Routing Protocols, each router in the network
exchanges its routing table information with the neighbor routers at
frequent intervals . The purpose of this is to update its own table with the
latest information about the network paths.
 The protocol uses an algorithm(Bellman-Ford) algorithm to calculate the
shortest path to each destination and later updates the routing table
iteratively based on the distance vectors received from neighbors.
 Routers tend to rely on information from their neighbors rather than
having a complete look on the network which might lead to
inconsistencies.
 Examples of the distance vector routing protocols are the Routing
Information Protocol (RIP) and the Interior Gateway Routing Protocol
(IGRP)