Connected: An Internet Encyclopedia
RIP Protocol Overview

Up: Connected: An Internet Encyclopedia
Up: Topics
Up: Functions
Up: Routing
Prev: OSPF-2 Protocol Overview
Next: Security

RIP Protocol Overview

RIP Protocol Overview

Of Internet interior routing protocols, RIP is probably the most widely used. It is a distance-vector protocol based on a 1970s Xerox design. Ported to TCP/IP when LANs first appeared in the early 80s, RIP has changed little in the past decade and suffers from several limitations, some of which have been overcome with RIP-2, which is not discussed here. RFC 1058 documents RIP.

Parameter RIP Default Value
Infinity 16 (fixed)
Update time 30 sec
Invalid time 180 sec
Flush time 120 sec
Holddown Not used

However, RIP has several benefits. It is in widespread use, the only interior gateway protocol that can be counted on to really run everywhere. Configuring a RIP system requires little effort, beyond setting path costs. Finally, RIP uses an algorithm that does not impose serious computation or storage requirements on hosts or routers.


Next: Security

Connected: An Internet Encyclopedia
RIP Protocol Overview