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Career Development Common Categories of Routing Protocols (With 7 Types)

Common Categories of Routing Protocols

(With 7 Types)
By Indeed Editorial Team
August 5, 2021

Routing protocols can help computer networks communicate

e ectively and e ciently. Regardless of network size, these protocols
can help securely transfer data to its destination. Understanding the
di erent categories and types is bene cial to understand what
routing practice can best address your needs. In this article, we
discuss ve common routing protocol categorizations and explain the
seven associated protocol types.

Common routing protocol categories

There are six common routing protocols, separated into three related
pairings:

1. Distance vector and link state protocols

Distance vector protocols can measure the distance—called hops—it

takes data to arrive at its destination within a system or application.
The number of hops refers to the speci c number of routers the data
may run through before reaching its ultimate destination. Typically,
these protocols send information to other nearby devices, which
might require large bandwidths for support. By sending this
information, the protocols determine the most e cient routing
paths.

Link state protocols also nd the best routing path and also share
information with nearby routers. However, they calculate the speed
and the cost of resources associated with each potential path. For
example, if a route is longer, it may cost more for the data to be
copied additional times. To solve this, they apply algorithms and alert
other routers when pathways have changed. They can also create
and share di erent tables like:

Neighbor tables: This table type can store information and details
from other close routers.

Topology tables: These help by storing information about the

organization of entire networks.

Routing tables: These store information about the most e cient

data routes.

The information from these tables can help link states determine and
compare the data's journey speed and the components and costs
involved in getting it there.

Related: What Is a Data Table? (With Tips)

2. Interior gateway (IGP) and exterior gateway

(EGP) protocols

Interior gateway protocols usually exchange information with other

routers within single autonomous systems. These systems can
include one routing network or a group of networks operating under
the same control. This allows for simpler information changes within
the same internal network, without the interference of outside
routers.

Exterior gateway protocols communicate information between

routing networks in di erent autonomous systems. Typically,
because they're in di erent systems, this process is more complex
and potentially less common. The extra complexity can come from
the need for computer networks to communicate outside of their
default systems. This might make EGPs less common than other
protocols that communicate within the same systems.

3. Classful and classless protocols

Classful protocols perform routing updates without including subnet

mask information. This is a number identi cation for devices with
similar internet protocol (IP) network information. This classi cation
might exclude the information because it focuses on identifying
entire networks rather than individual IP address identi cation.
Classful protocols require greater bandwidth because they perform
routing updates at regular intervals. Because this classi cation
supports fewer protocol types, it's becoming less common.

These protocols include subnet mask information during routing

updates, and they can communicate with devices in separate
networks. This may be because classless protocols focus on
transferring more detailed data at higher complexity levels. Including
the subnet mask information might help produce more accurate
routes for data e ciency. Classless protocols also use less bandwidth
because they perform updates only when there are changes to the
data.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Computer Networking

7 types of routing protocols

Once you know how to categorize routing protocols, you can learn
more about the seven di erent types.

1. Routing information protocol (RIP)

RIP, an interior gateway protocol, is one of the rst protocols created.

You can use it with local area networks (LANs), which are linked
computers in a small range, or wide area networks (WANs), which are
telecommunications networks that cover a greater range. There are
two di erent versions of this protocol type: RIPv1 and RIPv2.

RIPv1, the original version, is a classful protocol that examines and

evaluates network paths based on the hops to the pre-determined
destination. Typically, it communicates with other networks by
broadcasting its IP address. Meanwhile, the newer version, RIPv2,
shares its routing table through a multicast address, which identi es
the main computer network. This version, which is a classless
protocol, also features advanced security measures, like
authentication, to protect data. RIPv2 is bene cial for smaller
networks because it can only support router journeys of 15 hops or
fewer.

Related: Types of Computer Servers and How They Function

2. Interior gateway protocol (IGRP)

Cisco, an international technology company, created IGRP. It uses

many of RIP's foundational functions but increases the maximum
amount of supported hops to 100. As a result, it may work better for
larger networks. IGRPs are distance vector and classful protocols. To
function, IGRP includes metrics like network capacity, reliability and
load to compare. This type also automatically updates when changes,
like route adjustments, occur. This helps prevent routing loops, which
are errors that create an endless circle of data transfer.

Related: 37 Tech Terms Everyone Needs To Know

3. Enhanced interior gateway routing protocol

(EIGRP)

Cisco also developed EIGRP, which allows for 255 hops. This type
classi es as a distance vector, interior gateway and classless protocol.
It uses the reliable transport protocol and the di using update
algorithm to speed up the data convergence process, which
maximizes e ciency. When in use, a router can take information
from other routers' tables and record them as references. If a change
occurs, each router noti es its neighbor to help ensure they all know
which data routes are in use. This helps prevent potential
miscommunications between routers.

4. Open shortest path first (OSPF)

OSPF—which classi es as a link state, interior gateway and classless

protocol—uses the shortest path rst (SPF) algorithm to ensure the
e cient transmission of data. Internally, this type maintains multiple
databases with topology tables and information about its entire
network. Typically, the information comes from link state
advertisements sent by individual routers. The advertisements, which
are like reports, share detailed descriptions of the path's distance and
how many resources it may require.

OSPF uses an algorithm called Dijkstra to recalculate pathways when

topology changes occur. It also uses authentication practices to
ensure its data is secure throughout changes or network breaches.
Small and large network organizations may bene t from using OSPF
because of its scalability features.

5. Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)

EGP, a type of exterior gateway protocol, is useful for exchanging

data or information between di erent gateway hosts in autonomous
systems. Speci cally, it helps provide routers with space to share
information across domains, like the internet. The routing table for
this protocol includes:

Recognized routers

Route costs

Network addresses of nearby devices

EGP maintains closely located network databases to route the

di erent pathways data might take to reach its destination. The
databases then share the information between the connected routers
to ensure all routers update their tables. The new routing tables can
help determine the best route for data.

6. Border gateway protocol (BGP)

BGP is another type of exterior gateway protocol that was initially

developed to replace EGP. It uses the best path selection algorithm
for performing data package transfers, making it a distance vector
protocol as well. To automatically determine the best route, BGP
references factors like:

Path length

Origin type

Router identi cation

Neighbor IP addresses

BGP allows administrators to alter transfer routes depending on their

needs and o ers advanced security features so only authorized
routers can exchange data and information with each other.

7. Immediate system-to-immediate system (IS-IS)

IS-IS—classi ed as a link state, interior gateway and classless

protocol—is commonly used to send and share IP routing
information on the internet. The protocol uses an altered version of
the Dijkstra algorithm. Usually, the protocol organizes routers into
groups to create larger domains and connect routers for data
transferring. IS-IS frequently uses these two network types:

Network service access point (NSAP): Similar to an IP address, an

NSAP is the identi cation of a service access point in systems that
use the open system interconnection (OSI) model.

Network entity title (NET): This helps identify individual network

routers within larger computer networks.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are
affiliated with Indeed.

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