Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

The Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a dynamic routing protocol that helps to find the shortest path between two hops. This tutorial checks the working of the RIP protocol, its importance, and its different versions.

It creates a routing table that helps routers to find the network layout. Dynamic Routing table helps to understand the changes in network connections.

John Bailey asked me in the comment section to explain the workings of this protocol.

RIP is a distance-vector routing protocol. It uses hop count as the routing metric.

RIP sends routing-update messages at regular intervals and and updates the routing table when the network topology changes. The average RIP update time is 30 seconds, while the hold-down time is 180 seconds.

Sharanya Mohan, a reader of our blog, CoreNetworkZ, asked this question. It is an important question.

One of the interviewer's favorite questions for a network engineer recruitment is which OSI layer RIP works. RIP is based on UDP and working in the Transport layer.

We have covered the importance and the working of the RIP. Let us check how the Routing Information Protocol maintains stability.

I read one question from Arun Kumar in the blog comment section. He wanted to know how RIP keeps its stability. RIP implements the following mechanisms to maintain stability. They are:

1. Split horizon

2. Route poisoning

3. Hold down mechanisms

One of the repeated CCNA questions is about the different types of RIP. I do not wonder why I keep getting this question. Robin Matthews asked this question in the comments. There are three versions of Routing Information Protocol. They are:

1. RIP version

2. RIP version 2

3. RIPng

RIP version 1 is the basic RIP which doesn't support VLSM. This drawback is fixed on the RIP version 2 where it supports Variable Length Subnet Mask (VLSM).

RIP version 2 uses multicast where RIP version 1 uses broadcast to send routing updates.

RIP version 2 multicasts routing updates to the address 224.0.0.9. RIPng is specially defined for IP version 6.

Today, I have covered the basics of Routing Information Protocol. If anyone is looking for a detailed tutorial, I suggest these references.

1. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960xr/software/15_2_7_e/configuration_guide/b_1527e_consolidated_2960xr_cg/routing_information_protocol.pdf
2. https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/3.1.0?topic=omproute-routing-information-protocol