EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) is a Cisco-developed routing protocol used within autonomous systems. It efficiently calculates routes and supports both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. EIGRP uses a metric based on bandwidth and delay by default, aiming to provide efficient routing and quick convergence in networks.
EIGRP is used primarily for routing within autonomous systems. It dynamically calculates the shortest path to destinations based on its metric, which considers factors like bandwidth and delay. This makes EIGRP suitable for networks where quick route convergence and efficient bandwidth utilization are priorities.
One of the advantages of EIGRP is its rapid convergence and efficient use of network bandwidth. It achieves this through features like Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL), which minimizes the routing information exchanged between routers and reduces the impact of topology changes on network performance. EIGRP also supports features such as route summarization and load balancing, enhancing its scalability and flexibility in network design.
EIGRP and OSPF are both popular routing protocols used in computer networks. EIGRP is advantageous in Cisco environments due to its proprietary nature and seamless integration with Cisco hardware. It offers specific features like ease of configuration, rapid convergence, and support for various network layer protocols. OSPF, on the other hand, is an open-standard protocol that supports multi-vendor environments and provides scalability and flexibility in network design.
EIGRP is called a hybrid protocol because it combines features of both distance vector and link-state routing protocols. Like a distance vector protocol, EIGRP advertises routing information to its neighbors. However, it also maintains a topology table similar to link-state protocols, enabling it to calculate routes based on the shortest path. This hybrid approach allows EIGRP to achieve rapid convergence and efficient use of network resources while maintaining scalability in larger networks.