Introduction

Routing Protocol Selection Guide - IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP

Overview
The purpose of routing protocols is to learn of available routes that exist on the enterprise
network, build routing tables and make routing decisions. Some of the most common routing
protocols include IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS and BGP. There are two primary routing protocol
types although many different routing protocols defined with those two types. Link state and
distance vector protocols comprise the primary types. Distance vector protocols advertise their
routing table to all directly connected neighbors at regular frequent intervals using a lot of
bandwidth and are slow to converge. When a route becomes unavailable, all router tables must
be updated with that new information. The problem is with each router having to advertise that
new information to its neighbors, it takes a long time for all routers to have a current accurate
view of the network. Distance vector protocols use fixed length subnet masks which aren't
scalable. Link state protocols advertise routing updates only when they occur which uses
bandwidth more effectively. Routers don't advertise the routing table which makes convergence
faster. The routing protocol will flood the network with link state advertisements to all neighbor
routers per area in an attempt to converge the network with new route information. The
incremental change is all that is advertised to all routers as a multicast LSA update. They use
variable length subnet masks, which are scalable and use addressing more efficiently. 

Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)

Interior Gateway Routing Protocol is a distance vector routing protocol developed by Cisco
systems for routing multiple protocols across small and medium sized Cisco networks. It is
proprietary which requires that you use Cisco routers. This contrasts with IP RIP and IPX RIP,
which are designed for multi-vendor networks. IGRP will route IP, IPX, Decnet and AppleTalk
which makes it very versatile for clients running many different protocols. It is somewhat more
scalable than RIP since it supports a hop count of 100, only advertises every 90 seconds and
uses a composite of five different metrics to select a best path destination. Note that since IGRP
advertises less frequently, it uses less bandwidth than RIP but converges much slower since it
 is 90 seconds before IGRP routers are aware of network topology changes. IGRP does
recognize assignment of different autonomous systems and automatically summarizes at
network class boundaries. As well there is the option to load balance traffic across equal or
unequal metric cost paths.

Characteristics
 Distance Vector
 Routes IP, IPX, Decnet, Appletalk
 Routing Table Advertisements Every 90 Seconds
 Metric: Bandwidth, Delay, Reliability, Load, MTU Size
 Hop Count: 100
 Fixed Length Subnet Masks
 Summarization on Network Class Address
 Load Balancing Across 6 Equal or Unequal Cost Paths ( IOS 11.0 )
 Update Timer: 90 seconds
 Invalid Timer: 270 seconds
 Holddown Timer: 280 seconds
 Metric Calculation = destination path minimum BW * delay (usec)
 Split Horizon

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

(EIGRP)
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol is a hybrid routing protocol developed by Cisco
systems for routing many protocols across an enterprise Cisco network. It has characteristics of
both distance vector routing protocols and link state routing protocols. It is proprietary which
requires that you use Cisco routers. EIGRP will route the same protocols that IGRP routes (IP,
IPX, Decnet and Appletalk) and use the same composite metrics as IGRP to select a best path
destination. As well there is the option to load balance traffic across equal or unequal metric
cost paths. Summarization is automatic at a network class address however it can be
configured to summarize at subnet boundaries as well. Redistribution between IGRP and
EIGRP is automatic as well. There is support for a hop count of 255 and variable length subnet
masks.
 Convergence
Convergence with EIGRP is faster since it uses an algorithm called dual update algorithm or
DUAL, which is run when a router detects that a particular route is unavailable. The router
queries its neighbors looking for a feasible successor. That is defined as a neighbor with a least
cost route to a particular destination that doesn't cause any routing loops. EIGRP will update its
routing table with the new route and the associated metric. Route changes are advertised only
to affected routers when changes occur. That utilizes bandwidth more efficiently than distance
vector routing protocols. 

Autonomous Systems
EIGRP does recognize assignment of different autonomous systems which are processes
running under the same administrative routing domain. Assigning different autonomous system
numbers isn't for defining a backbone such as with OSPF. With IGRP and EIGRP it is used to
change route redistribution, filtering and summarization points.

Characteristics
 Advanced Distance Vector
 Routes IP, IPX, Decnet, Appletalk
 Routing Advertisements: Partial When Route Changes Occur
 Metrics: Bandwidth, Delay, Reliability, Load, MTU Size
 Hop Count: 255
 Variable Length Subnet Masks
 Summarization on Network Class Address or Subnet Boundary
 Load Balancing Across 6 Equal or Unequal Cost Paths (IOS 11.0)
 Hello Timer: 1 second on Ethernet / 60 seconds on Non-Broadcast
 Holddown Timer: 3 seconds on Ethernet / 180 seconds on Non-Broadcast
 Metric Calculation = destination path minimum BW * delay (msec) * 25
 Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) Support
 Split Horizon
 LSA Multicast Address: 224.0.0.10
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
Open Shortest Path First is a true link state protocol developed as an open standard for routing
IP across large multi-vendor networks. A link state protocol will send link state advertisements to
all connected neighbors of the same area to communicate route information. Each OSPF
enabled router, when started, will send hello packets to all directly connected OSPF routers.
The hello packets contain information such as router timers, router ID and subnet mask. If the
routers agree on the information they become OSPF neighbors. Once routers become
neighbors they establish adjacencies by exchanging link state databases. Routers on point-to-
point and point-to-multipoint links (as specified with the OSPF interface type setting)
automatically establish adjacencies. Routers with OSPF interfaces configured as broadcast
(Ethernet) and NBMA (Frame Relay) will use a designated router that establishes those
adjacencies.

Areas
OSPF uses a hierarchy with assigned areas that connect to a core backbone of routers. Each
area is defined by one or more routers that have established adjacencies. OSPF has defined
backbone area 0, stub areas, not-so-stubby areas and totally stubby areas. Area 0 is built with a
group of routers connected at a designated office or by WAN links across several offices. It is
preferable to have all area 0 routers connected with a full mesh using an Ethernet segment at a
core office. This provides for high performance and prevents partitioning of the area should a
router connection fail. Area 0 is a transit area for all traffic from attached areas. Any inter-area
traffic must route through area 0 first. Stub areas use a default route injected from the ABR to
forward traffic destined for any external routes (LSA 5,7) to the area border router. Inter-area
(LSA 3,4) and intra-area (LSA 1,2) routing is as usual. Totally Stubby areas are a Cisco
specification that uses a default route injected from the ABR for all Inter-area and external
routes. The Totally Stubby area doesn't advertise or receive external or Inter-area LSA's. The
Not-So-Stubby area ABR is a transit area that will import external routes with type 7 LSA and
flood them to other areas as type 5 LSA. External routes aren't received at that area type. Inter-
area and intra-area routing is as usual. OSPF defines internal routers, backbone routers, area
border routers (ABR) and autonomous system boundary routers (ASBR). Internal routers are
specific to one area. Area border routers have interfaces that are assigned to more than one
 area such as area 0 and area 10. An autonomous system boundary router has interfaces
assigned to OSPF and a different routing protocol such as EIGRP or BGP. A virtual link is
utilized when an area doesn't have a direct connection to area 0. A virtual link is established
between an area border router for an area that isn't connected to area 0, and an area border
router for an area that is connected to area 0. Area design involves considering geographical
location of offices and traffic flows across the enterprise. It is important to be able to summarize
addresses for many offices per area and minimize broadcast traffic.

Convergence
Fast convergence is accomplished with the SPF (Dijkstra) algorithm which determines a
shortest path from source to destination. The routing table is built from running SPF which
determines all routes from neighbor routers. Since each OSPF router has a copy of the topology
database and routing table for its particular area, any route changes are detected faster than
with distance vector protocols and alternate routes are determined.

Designated Router
Broadcast networks such as Ethernet and Non-Broadcast Multi Access networks such as Frame
Relay have a designated router (DR) and a backup designated router (BDR) that are elected.
Designated routers establish adjacencies with all routers on that network segment. This is to
reduce broadcasts from all routers sending regular hello packets to its neighbors. The DR sends
multicast packets to all routers that it has established adjacencies with. If the DR fails, it is the
BDR that sends multicasts to specific routers. Each router is assigned a router ID, which is the
highest assigned IP address on a working interface. OSPF uses the router ID (RID) for all
routing processes.

Characteristics
 Link State
 Routes IP
 Routing Advertisements: Partial When Route Changes Occur
 Metric: Composite Cost of each router to Destination (100,000,000/interface speed)
 Hop Count: None (Limited by Network)
 Variable Length Subnet Masks
 Summarization on Network Class Address or Subnet Boundary
 Load Balancing Across 4 Equal Cost Paths
 Router Types: Internal, Backbone, ABR, ASBR
 Area Types: Backbone, Stubby, Not-So-Stubby, Totally Stubby
 LSA Types: Intra-Area (1,2) Inter-Area (3,4), External (5,7)
 Fast Hello Timer Interval: 250 msec. for Ethernet, 30 seconds for Non-Broadcast
 Dead Timer Interval: 1 second for Ethernet, 120 seconds for Non-Broadcast
 Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) Support
 LSA Multicast Address: 224.0.0.5 and 224.0.0.6 (DR/BDR) Don't Filter!
 Interface Types: Point to Point, Broadcast, Non-Broadcast, Point to Multipoint, Loopback

Integrated IS-IS
Integrated Intermediate System - Intermediate System routing protocol is a link state protocol
similar to OSPF that is used with large enterprise and ISP customers. An intermediate system is
a router and IS-IS is the routing protocol that routes packets between intermediate systems. IS-
IS utilizes a link state database and runs the SPF Dijkstra algorithm to select shortest paths
routes. Neighbor routers on point to point and point to multipoint links establish adjacencies by
sending hello packets and exchanging link state databases. IS-IS routers on broadcast and
NBMA networks select a designated router that establishes adjacencies with all neighbor
routers on that network. The designated router and each neighbor router will establish an
adjacency with all neighbor routers by multicasting link state advertisements to the network
itself. That is different from OSPF, which establishes adjacencies between the DR and each
neighbor router only. IS-IS uses a hierarchical area structure with level 1 and level 2 router
types. Level 1 routers are similar to OSPF intra-area routers, which have no direct connections
outside of its area. Level 2 routers comprise the backbone area which connects different areas
similar to OSPF area 0. With IS-IS a router can be an L1/L2 router which is like an OSPF area
border router (ABR) which has connections with its area and the backbone area. The difference
with IS-IS is that the links between routers comprise the area borders and not the router. Each
IS-IS router must have an assigned address that is unique for that routing domain. An address
format is used which is comprised of an area ID and a system ID. The area ID is the assigned
area number and the system ID is a MAC address from one of the router interfaces. There is
 support for variable length subnet masks, which is standard with all link state protocols. Note
that IS-IS assigns the routing process to an interface instead of a network.

Characteristics
 Link State
 Routes IP, CLNS
 Routing Advertisements: Partial When Routing Changes Occur
 Metric: Variable Cost (default cost 10 assigned to each interface)
 Hop Count: None (limited by network)
 Variable Length Subnet Masks
 Summarization on Network Class Address or Subnet Boundary
 Load Balancing Across 6 Equal Cost Paths
 Hello Timer Interval: 10 seconds
 Dead Timer Interval: 30 seconds
 Area Types: Hierarchical Topology similar to OSPF
 Router Types: Level 1 and Level 2
 LSP Types: Internal L1 and L2, External L2
 Designated Router Election, No BDR
 Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) Support

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)

Border Gateway Protocol is an exterior gateway protocol, which is different from the interior
gateway protocols discussed so far. The distinction is important since the term autonomous
system is used somewhat differently with protocols such as EIGRP than it is with BGP. Exterior
gateway protocols such as BGP route between autonomous systems, which are assigned a
particular AS number. AS numbers can be assigned to an office with one or several BGP
routers. The BGP routing table is comprised of destination IP addresses, an associated AS-Path
to reach that destination and a next hop router address. The AS-Path is a collection of AS
numbers that represent each office involved with routing packets. Contrast that with EIGRP,
which uses autonomous systems as well. The difference is their autonomous systems refer to a
logical grouping of routers within the same administrative system. An EIGRP network can
configure many autonomous systems. They are all managed by the company for defining route
 summarization, redistribution and filtering. BGP is utilized a lot by Internet Service Providers
(ISP) and large enterprise companies that have dual homed internet connections with single or
dual routers homed to the same or different Internet Service Providers. BGP will route packets
across an ISP network, which is a separate routing domain that is managed by them. The ISP
has its own assigned AS number, which is assigned by InterNIC. New customers can either
request an AS assignment for their office from the ISP or InterNIC. A unique AS number
assignment is required for customers when they connect using BGP. There are 10 defined
attributes that have a particular order or sequence, which BGP utilizes as metrics to determine
the best path to a destination. Companies with only one circuit connection to an ISP will
implement a default route at their router, which forwards any packets that are destined for an
external network. BGP routers will redistribute routing information (peering) with all IGP routers
on the network (EIGRP, RIP, OSPF etc) which involve exchange of full routing tables. Once that
is finished, incremental updates are sent with topology changes. The BGP default keepalive
timer is 60 seconds while the holddown timer is 180 seconds. Each BGP router can be
configured to filter routing broadcasts with route maps instead of sending/receiving the entire
internet routing table. 

Characteristics
 Path Vector
 Routes IP
 Routing Advertisements: Partial When Route Changes Occur
 Metrics: Weight, Local Preference, Local Originated, As Path, Origin Type, MED
 Hop Count: 255
 Variable Length Subnet Masks
 Summarization on Network Class Address or Subnet Boundary
 Load Balancing Across 6 Equal Cost Paths
 Keepalive Timer: 60 seconds
 Holddown Timer: 180 seconds
 Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) Support
 Designated Router: Route Reflector

BGP Routing Table Components

 Destination IP Address / Subnet Mask
 AS-Path
 Next Hop IP Address